Adventures in Africa, by W. H. G. Kingston. 

________________________________________________________________________In this book the hero, fresh from school, arrives from England, andjoins his uncle, who is a trader with the people of central Africa, bringing the goods obtained down to the south. On this occasion theyhave been attacked soon after they set out by natives led by Boers. Inorder to complete their journey to central Africa they decide to returnwith the few animals left to them, horses and an ox, over the KalahariDesert. Unfortunately they encamp one night in a place infested withthe tsetse flies, which kills the horses. Shortage of water and attacksby various wild beasts such as elephants and a hippopotamus, are some ofthe adventures described. 

Adventures they have in plenty, almost too many, for one of their numberis killed. They also kill far too many animals, as was the custom inVictorian times. 

It is a short book, that won't take long to listen to, or to read. 

________________________________________________________________________ADVENTURES IN AFRICA, BY W. H. G. KINGSTON. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

"How many more days, Jan, will it be before we get across thisabominable desert?" I asked of our black guide, as we trudged along, heleading our sole remaining ox, while my uncle, Mr Roger Farley, and Iled our two horses laden with the remnants of our property. 

"May be ten days, may be two ten, " answered Jan Jigger, whose knowledgeof numerals was somewhat limited. 

I gave a groan, for I was footsore and weary, and expected to have had amore satisfactory answer. We were making our way over a light-colouredsoft sand, sprinkled in some places with tall grass, rising in tufts, with bare spots between them. In other parts were various creepingplants, and also--though I called the region a desert--there wereextensive patches of bushes, above which here and there rose clumps oftrees of considerable height. This large amount of vegetation, however, managed to exist without streams or pools, and for miles and milestogether we had met with no water to quench our own thirst or that ofour weary beasts. My uncle was engaged in the adventurous and notunprofitable occupation of trading with the natives in the interior ofAfrica. He had come down south some months before to dispose of theproduce of his industry at Graham's Town, where I had joined him, havingbeen sent for from England. After purchasing a fresh supply of goods, arms, powder, and shot, and giving a thorough repair to his waggons, hehad again set off northward for the neighbourhood of lake Ngami, wherehe was to meet his partner, Mr Welbourn, who had with him his sonHarry, with whom I had been at school, and who was about my own age. Wehad, beyond the borders of the colony, been attacked by a party ofsavages, instigated by the Boers, two or three of whom indeed led them. They had deprived us of our cattle and men, we having escaped with asmall portion only of our goods, two of our horses, a single ox and ourone faithful Bechuana. To get away from our enemies we had taken aroute unusually followed across the Kalahari desert. We were aware ofthe dangers and difficulties to be encountered, but the road was muchshorter than round either to the east or west; and though we knew thatwild animals abounded, including elephants, rhinoceroses, lions, leopards, and hyaenas, yet we believed that we should be able to contendwith them, and that we should not be impeded by human savages. Dayafter day we trudged forward. The only water we could obtain was bydigging into certain depressions in the ground which our guide pointedout, when, having scraped out the sand with the single spade wepossessed and our hands, we arrived at a hard stratum, beyond which headvised us not to go. In a short time the water began to flow inslowly, increasing by degrees until we had enough for ourselves and ourcattle. 

We had now, however, been travelling sixty miles or more, withoutfinding one of these water-holes; and though we had still a smallquantity of the precious liquid for ourselves, our poor horses and oxhad begun to suffer greatly. Still Jan urged us to go forward. 

"Water come soon, water come soon!" he continued saying, keeping his eyeranging about in every direction in search of the expected hole. 

Trusting to Jan's assurances, thirst compelled us to consume the lastdrop of our water. Still, hour after hour went by, and we reached noplace at which we could replenish it. Our sufferings became terrible. My throat felt as if seared by a hot iron. Often I had talked of beingthirsty, but I had never before known what thirst really was. My uncle, I had no doubt, was suffering as much as I was, but his endurance waswonderful. 

We had seen numbers of elands sporting round us in every direction, butas soon as we approached them, off they bounded. 

"Surely those deer do not live without water; it cannot be far away, " Iobserved. 

"They are able to pass days and weeks without tasting any, " said myuncle. "They can besides quickly cover thirty or forty miles of groundif they wish to reach it. We must try to shoot one of them for supper, which may give us both meat and drink. See, in the wood yonder we canleave our horses and the ox under Jan's care, and you and I will try tostalk one of the animals. "

On reaching the wood, my uncle and I, with our guns in our hands, took adirection which would lead us to leeward of the herd, so that we mightnot be scented as we approached. 

By creeping along under the shelter of some low bushes as we nearedthem, the elands did not see us. Hunger and thirst made us unusuallycautious and anxious to kill one. My uncle told me to reserve my fire, in case he should fail to bring the eland down; but as he was a muchbetter shot than I was, I feared that should he miss, I also shouldfail. Presently I saw him rise from among the grass. Lifting his rifleto his shoulder he fired; the eland gave a bound, but alighting on itsfeet was scampering off, when I eagerly raised my rifle and pulled thetrigger. As the smoke cleared off, to my infinite delight I saw theeland struggling on the grass. We both rushed forward, and my uncle'sknife quickly deprived it of life. It was a magnificent animal, as bigas an ox, being the largest of the South African antelopes. 

On opening its stomach we discovered water, which, on being allowed tocool, was sufficiently pure to quench our burning thirst. We secured aportion of it for Jan, and loading ourselves with as much meat as wecould carry, we returned to where we had left him. A fire was soonlighted, and we lost no time in cooking a portion of the flesh. Withour thirst partially relieved we were able to eat. We had made our fireat some distance from the shrubs for fear of igniting them, while wetethered our horses and ox among the longest grass we could find. Inthat dry region no shelter was required at night, so we lay down tosleep among our bales, with our saddles for pillows, and our rifles byour sides. I had been sleeping soundly, dreaming of purling streams andbabbling fountains, when I awoke to find my throat as dry and parched asever. Hoping to find a few drops of water in my bottle, I sat up toreach for it; when, as I looked across the fire, what was my dismay tosee a large tiger-like animal stealthily approaching, and tiger I fullybelieved it to be. On it came, exhibiting a pair of round brightshining eyes. I expected every moment to see it spring upon us. I wasafraid that by crying out I might only hasten its movements, so I feltfor my rifle and, presenting at the creature's head shouted--

"A tiger, uncle; a tiger, Jan!"

"A tiger!" exclaimed my uncle, springing up in a moment. "That's not atiger, it's a leopard, but if pressed by hunger may prove as ugly acustomer. Don't fire until I tell you, for if wounded it will becomedangerous. "

All this time the leopard was crawling on, though it must have heard thesound of our voices; perhaps the glare of the fire in its eyes preventedit from seeing us, for it still cautiously approached. I saw my unclelift his rifle; he fired, but though his bullet struck the creature, instead of falling as I expected, it gave a bound and the next instantwould have been upon us. Now was my time. As it rose, I fired, and mybullet must have gone through its heart, for over it rolled without astruggle, perfectly dead. 

"Bravo! Fred, " exclaimed my uncle. "This is the second time within afew hours your rifle has done good service. You'll become a first-ratehunter if you go on as you've begun. How that leopard came here it'sdifficult to say, unless it was driven from the hills, and has beenwandering over the desert in search of prey; those creatures generallyinhabit a high woody country. "

Jan exhibited great delight at our victory, and having made up the fire, we spent some time in skinning the beast. Its fur was of great beauty, and although it would add to the load of our ox, we agreed to carry itwith us, as it would be a welcome present to any chief who might renderus assistance. 

Having flayed the animal and pegged down the skin, we returned to ourbeds, hoping to finish the night without interruption. As soon as therewas light sufficient to enable us to see our way, we pushed forward, earnestly praying that before the sun was high in the heavens, we mightfall in with water. Notwithstanding that Jan repeatedly exclaimed, "Find water soon! Find water soon!" not a sign of it could we see. Aglare from a cloudy sky was shed over the whole scene; clumps of treesand bushes looking so exactly alike, that after travelling severalmiles, we might have fancied that we had made no progress. At lengtheven the trees and bushes became scarcer, and what looked like averitable desert appeared before us. 

I had gone on a short distance ahead, when to my delight I saw in fronta large lake, in the centre of which the waves were dancing andsparkling in the sunlight, the shadows of the trees being vividlyreflected on the mirror-like surface near the shores, while beyond I sawwhat I took to be a herd of elephants flapping their ears andintertwining their trunks. 

"Water, water!" I shouted; "we shall soon quench our thirst. We musttake care to avoid those elephants, however, " I added, pointing them outto my uncle. "It would be a fearful thing to be charged by them. "

The horses and ox lifted up their heads and pressed forward. Jan to mysurprise said nothing, though I knew he was suffering as well as myuncle and I were. I was rushing eagerly forward, when suddenly a hazewhich hung over the spot, broke and dispelled the illusion. A vastsalt-pan lay before us. It was covered with an effervescence of lime, which had produced the deceptive appearance. Our spirits sank lowerthan ever. To avoid the salt-pan, we turned to the right, so as toskirt its eastern side. The seeming elephants proved to be zebras, which scampered off out of reach. We now began to fear that our horseswould give in, and that we should have to push forward with our oxalone, abandoning everything it could not carry. Still my uncle cried"Forward!" Jan had evidently mistaken the road, and passed the spotwhere he had expected to find water. Still he observed that we needhave no fear of pursuing our course. Evening was approaching and wemust again camp: without water we could scarcely expect to get throughthe night. 

Presently Jan looking out ahead, darted forward and stopped at where asmall plant grew with linear leaves and a stalk not thicker than acrow's quill. Instantly taking a spade fastened to the back of the ox, he began eagerly digging away; and after he had got down to the depth ofa foot, he displayed to us a tuber, the size of an enormous turnip. Onremoving the rind, he cut it open with his axe, and showed us a mass ofcellular tissue filled up with a juicy substance which he handed to us, and applying a piece to his own mouth ate eagerly away at it. Weimitated his example, and were almost immediately much refreshed. Wefound several other plants of the same sort, and digging up the rootsgave them to the horses and ox, who crunched them up with infinitesatisfaction. 

Our thirst was relieved in a way I could scarcely have supposedpossible. The animals too, trudged forward with far lighter steps thanbefore. Relieved of our thirst and in the hopes of finding either wateror more tubers next morning, we lay down thankful that we had escapedthe fearful danger we had apprehended. As we advanced we looked outanxiously for the tuber-bearing plants, but not one could we see. I hadgone on some little distance ahead, when I caught sight of a roundobject some way off, which, as the rays of sun fell on it, appeared ofscarlet hue. I ran towards it, when I saw what looked like a smalloblong red melon. 

"Here's something worth having!" I exclaimed, cutting into it with myknife. When I applied it to my mouth, to my disappointment I foundthat, although juicy in the extreme, it was perfectly bitter. I threwit down in disgust. Jan soon afterwards, on coming near, said:

"Dis no good, but find oders presently!"

Hurrying along, he struck one after another, and quickly handed me oneperfectly sweet; when he collected many more, with which we returned towhere my uncle had halted with the animals. 

The fruit was far more gratifying to the taste than the tubers. Weallowed the animals to eat as many as they wished, and, loading themwith a supply in case we should fail to find others further on, wecontinued our journey. 

Those melons lasted us another whole day and a night, and afforded theonly liquid which passed our mouths. As we were on foot our view overthe level desert was limited. 

I was walking alongside my uncle, discussing our future plans, havingbegun to hope that, in spite of the difficulties we had to contendagainst, we should get through, when I saw some objects moving rapidlyin the distance. They were coming towards us. 

"They are ostriches!" cried my uncle; "we must try and kill a few toobtain their plumes. "

We halted, and remained perfectly still, hoping that the birds mightapproach us. Now they ran as fleet as a race-horse, now they stoppedand went circling round. Two or three odd-looking birds, as theyseemed, were moving at a much slower rate. 

"Those Bosjeemen!" cried Jan. 

We at length saw that the latter were human beings, their legs coveredwith white pigment and carrying the head and feathers of an ostrich ontheir backs, while each had in his hand a bow and a number of arrows. Presently they cautiously approached the ostriches to leeward, stoppingevery now and then and pretending to be feeding. The ostriches wouldlook at the strange birds, but, not suspecting danger, allowed them toapproach. One of the Bosjeemen then shot an arrow, when the woundedbird and his companions ran off; the former, however, quickly dropped, when the other birds stopped to see what was the matter, and thusallowed their enemy to draw near enough to shoot another arrow. 

In this way three little yellow-skinned fellows each shot, in a shorttime, four magnificent ostriches. They had seen us in the distance, butinstead of running away, as we feared they would do, one of them, guessing we were traders, came forward to bargain for the sale of thefeathers, and Jan acting as interpreter, my uncle expressed awillingness to trade. The Bosjeemen then produced a number of reeds, scarcely the thickness of my little finger. Having plucked off thefeathers, they pushed them into the reeds; and, thus preserved, thefeathers were fit to travel any distance without being spoilt. 

It was late by the time the whole operation was performed, and we hadgiven the articles they had agreed to take in exchange. As the reedsweighed but little, the loads were considerably lightened. 

Jan now explained to our new friends that they would be further rewardedif they would conduct us to water. They at once agreed to do so, andone of them, hurrying away to a spot at a distance where they had lefttheir travelling equipage, returned with a dozen ostriches' eggs in anet at his back; he then made a sign to us to follow him, while hiscompanions remained with the ostriches they had shot. Sooner than weexpected he reached a hole, into which he rapidly dug with his hand;then, inserting a long reed, he began to suck away with might and main. In a short time the water flowed, and was led down by another reed intoa hole at the end of an ostrich egg, which was soon filled with water. As we had a leathern bucket we were enabled to give our animals a drink, though we could not allow them as much as they would have liked. 

The Bosjeeman then, refilling the egg-shells, returned with us to wherewe had left his companions. We found that they had built themselves ahut, if so it could be called, in a thick mimosa bush, by bending theboughs so as to form a roof, covered by reeds lightly fastened together. The inside was lined with dried leaves, grass, and the coarser feathersof the ostrich. When they saw that we were encamped, the three hunterslighted a fire and sat themselves down before it to enjoy a sumptuousrepast of ostrich flesh. Though unattractive in appearance, they werehonest little fellows, and we slept in perfect security, knowing thatthey would give us timely notice of the approach of an enemy. 

Jan assured us that we might trust them, as it was a high mark ofconfidence on their part to show us where we could procure water, forthey are always careful to hide such spots from those they thinkunfriendly. 

They accompanied us the following day, and led us to a pool, the onlyone we had met with while crossing the desert. Probably in many seasonsthat also would have been empty. Here our animals got as much water asthey could drink, and we filled our water-bottles. We then parted fromour yellow friends, who said that, as they were ignorant of the countryto the northward, they could not venture farther. Trusting to Jan'ssagacity to find water, we proceeded in good spirits. 

We had hoped to trade largely with the natives, but as we had lost thegreater part of our goods, we should have to depend upon our ownexertions to obtain the ivory and skins which would repay us for thedifficulties and dangers of our journey. We had fortunately saved thegreater part of our ammunition, which would enable us to hunt for somemonths to come. 

Of course we knew Mr Welbourn would be much disappointed at seeing usarrive with so slender an equivalent for the skins and ivory my unclehad taken south, instead of the waggon full of goods which he hadexpected. 

"He is a sensible, good-natured fellow, and will know that it was fromno fault of ours we were plundered, " observed my uncle. "We shall stilldo well, and shall probably encounter more adventures than we shouldhave met with had we confined ourselves to simple trading with thenatives. I should, however, have preferred that to undergoing thefatigues of hunting; besides which we might the sooner have returnedwith our cargo of ivory to the coast. "

Several more days passed by during which we came to three spots where wewere able to obtain a sufficient amount of water to satisfy ourselvesand our thirsty animals. Sometimes for miles together not a drop couldbe procured, and had it not been for the tubers, and the little redmelons I have described, the horses and our patient ox must haveperished. At length the sheen of water in the bright sunlight was seenin the distance. This time we were convinced that it was not a mirage. We pushed forward, hoping that our sufferings from thirst were at anend. Trees of greater height than any we had yet met with since leavingthe colony fringed the banks of a fine river. On examining the currentwe found that it was flowing to the north-east, and we therefore hopedthat by following it up we should reach the lake for which we werebound. Our black guide, however, advised that we should cross theriver, which was here fordable, and by steering north, considerablyshorten the journey. On wading through the water we looked out sharplyfor crocodiles and hippopotami, lest one of those fresh-water monstersshould venture to attack us; we got over, however, without accident. Having allowed our animals to drink their full of water, and replenishedour bottles, we encamped for the night under a magnificent _baobab_ treewith a trunk seventy feet in girth as high as we could reach, while ouranimals found an abundance of rich grass on which to satisfy theirhunger. 

What pigmies we felt as we stood beneath that giant tree. An army mighthave found shelter from the sun under its wide-spreading boughs. Wethought the spot a perfect paradise after our long journey across theplain. 

We had not long been seated round our camp-fire, when Jan made a dart athis foot and caught a fly which had settled on it; and, exhibiting it tomy uncle, exclaimed--

"No good, no good!"

It was of a brownish colour with three yellow bars across the body, andscarcely larger than a common house-fly. We soon saw others buzzingabout in considerable numbers. 

I asked Jan what he meant. 

"Das de _tsetse_: when bite horse or ox den dey die, " he answered. 

As, however, neither my uncle nor I felt any ill effects from the bitesof the flies, we thought that Jan must be mistaken, and at all events itwas now too late to shift our encampment. We therefore, having made upa blazing fire to scare off any wild beasts, lay down to sleep, withoutthinking more of the flies, which did not cause us any annoyance. 

The next morning we saw some of the creatures on the legs of our horsesand the ox; but we soon brushed them away, and, loading up, we continuedour journey. They went on as usual. Jan, however, looked muchdisconcerted, and I saw him continually brushing off the flies. 

"No good, no good!" he said, "hope soon get through, for de horses notgo far. "

I asked my uncle what Jan meant. He replied that he had often heard ofthe tsetse fly, but never having passed through a country infested byit, he was disinclined to believe the stories told of the deadly effectsof its bite on cattle and horses. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

We soon passed through the tsetse district, which was not more than acouple of miles wide, and, as our animals showed no appearance ofsuffering, we hoped that they had escaped injury. 

We had determined to encamp early in the day near a pool fed by arivulet which fell into the main stream, in order that we might shootsome game for our supper. Leaving Jan in charge of the camp, my uncleand I set off, believing that we could easily find our way back to thefire. We had gone some distance when we caught sight of a herd ofantelopes. In order that we might have a better chance of killing oneof them, my uncle told me to make a wide circuit, keeping to leeward ofthe deer towards a clump of trees, whence I might be able to get afavourable shot, while he lay down concealed by the brushwood near wherewe then were. 

Taking advantage of all the bushes and trunks of trees on the way, Iapproached the antelopes without disturbing them. Looking out from thecover I had gained, I watched the beautiful creatures, hoping that oneof them would come within range of my rifle. It was tantalising to seethem feeding so quietly just out of my reach. Still, though I might notget a shot, I hoped that they might go off towards where my uncle waslying hid. Presently, however, they bounded towards me; and, thinkingit possible that they might again turn, I fired at one of the leadinganimals, which, notwithstanding its wound, still went on, though atslackened speed. Instead of reloading, as I ought to have done, Idashed forward to secure it. Scarcely, however, had I left my coverthan what was my surprise, and I must confess my dismay, to see a hugelion! Should I attempt to escape by flight, the savage brute would, Iknew, follow me. I fixed my eyes as steadily as I could upon him, whileI attempted to reload. At the same time I knew that, even should Ifire, I might only wound him, when he would become more fierce. Therewere trees near, up which it was possible I might climb should he giveme time, but it was not likely that he would do that. I wondered thathe did not pursue the antelope; but probably he had lately had hisdinner, or he certainly would have done so. I continued loading, helashing his tail and roaring furiously. I expected every moment that hewould spring upon me. To escape by any other way than by shooting himdead seemed impossible. 

I finished loading, and brought my gun up ready to fire. Should I missor only wound him, he would be upon me in a moment. I had hithertoremained quite silent, but it occurred to me that if I should shoutloudly enough my uncle would hear my cry for help. I thought, too, thatI might scare the lion. When once I had made up my mind to shout, I didso with might and main. 

I was answered by a distant "hollo!" by which I knew that my uncle wasstill a long way off. He would, however, understand that I was indanger, and come to my assistance; or, if too late to help me, wouldprovide for his own safety. 

The lion seemed as undecided how to act as I was. As I shouted heroared, and again lashed his tail, but did not advance a step. Thisgave me courage; but, although the monarch of the forest did not appearin a combative mood, I felt very sure that, should I wound him, his ragewould be excited. I dared not for a moment withdraw my eye from him, and thus we stood regarding each other. To me it seemed a prodigiouslylong time. At last he seemed to lose patience, for his roars becamemore frequent and louder and louder, and he lashed his tail morefuriously. I raised my rifle to my shoulder. He came on at a cat-likepace, evidently ignorant of the power of the weapon I held in my hands. In another instant he would spring at me. I pulled the trigger. To myhorror, the cap failed to ignite the powder. I saw the monstrous brutein the act of springing, but at the same moment I heard the crack of arifle close to me; the next, a tremendous roar rent the air. I wasfelled to the earth, and felt myself weighed down by a vast body, unableto breathe or move. It was some time before I came to myself, when, looking up, I saw my uncle kneeling by my side. 

"The lion very nearly did for you, Fred, " he said; "but cheer up, lad. I don't think you're mortally hurt, though you've had a narrow squeakfor it. Had your gun not missed fire, you might have shot the lionyourself. Here he lies, and there's the springbok. "

While my uncle was talking, he was examining my hurts. The lion hadgiven me a fearful blow with his paw, and had injured one of myshoulders. It was a wonder indeed that he did not kill me. 

"We must get you to the camp somehow, " said my uncle; "I cannot leaveyou here while I bring the ox, so the sooner we set off the better. "

Taking me up in his arms, he began to stagger on with me; but, though hewas a strong man, I was no slight weight, and he had great difficulty ingetting along. I asked him to let me walk, as I thought that I could doso with his support. When I tried, however, I found that I could notmove one foot before the other. As we got within hail of the camp heshouted to Jan to come and help him; and together they carried me alongthe remainder of the distance. 

"Now that we have you safe here, though I am unwilling to leave you, Imust go back and fetch the antelope, for we cannot do without food, " hesaid. 

Telling Jan to collect materials for building a hut, as it was evidentthat I should be unable to move for some time, and also charging him tokeep an eye on me, he started off. 

I felt a great deal of pain, but I retained my senses, and tried todivert my thoughts by watching Jan, who was busily employed in cuttinglong sticks and branches for the hut. 

It seemed to me that my uncle had been gone for more than an hour, and Ibegan to fear that some accident might have happened to him. Wherethere was one lion it was probable that there were others, and theymight revenge themselves on the slayer of their relative. 

Jan, however, kept working away as if satisfied that all was right, nowand then taking a look at me, and throwing a few sticks on the fire toget it to burn brightly. He then began to prepare for roasting theexpected venison by placing some uprights, with cross pieces to serve asspits, close to the fire. 

"Hurrah! here am de Cap'n!" he at length shouted, such being the titlehe usually bestowed on my uncle. "He bring springbok, an' someting elsetoo. "

I felt greatly relieved when I saw my uncle throw down his heavy load, consisting not only of the antelope which I had shot, but of the lion'sskin. 

"I brought this, " he said, "to make a bed for you. You want it, thoughit is not fit at present to serve the purpose. "

I thanked him for his offer, but declared that I would rather just thenbe left where I was, as any movement pained me. 

Jan lost no time in cutting off some pieces of venison, and placing themto roast. My uncle also put on a pot with a small portion to make somesoup, which he said would suit me better than the roast. Hungry as Iwas, though I tried to eat some of the latter as soon as Jan declared itsufficiently done, I could not manage to get it down. My thirst becameexcessive, and it was fortunate that we were near water, or I believe Ishould otherwise have died. 

The hut was soon finished, and some leaves and grass placed in it for meto lie upon. The soup did me some good, but I suffered so much painthat I could scarcely sleep all the night, and in the morning was in sofevered a condition, that I was utterly unfit to travel. I was verysorry to delay my uncle, but it could not be helped, and he bore thedetention with his usual good temper. Nothing could exceed hiskindness. He sat by my side for hours together; he dressed my woundswhenever he thought it necessary, and indeed tended me with the greatestcare. 

Day after day, however, went by, and I still remained in the samehelpless state. He would not have left me for a moment, I believe, butit was necessary to go out and procure more game. 

Jan had undertaken to scrape and prepare the lion's skin. He was thusemployed near the stream at a little distance from the camp when I wasstartled by hearing a loud snort; and, looking up, what was my horror tosee him rushing along, with a huge hippopotamus following him! Inanother minute I expected to see him seized by its formidable jaws andtrampled to death, and then I thought that the savage brute would makeat me. In vain I attempted to rise and get my gun, but my uncle, whenhe went out, had forgotten to place it near me. I tried to cry out andfrighten the brute, but I could not raise my voice sufficiently high. Poor Jan shrieked loud enough, but his cries had no effect on themonster. He was making for a tree, up which he might possibly haveclimbed, when his feet slipped, and over he rolled on the ground. Hewas now perfectly helpless, and in a few minutes the hippopotamus wouldtrample him to death. It seemed as if all hope was gone; but, at thevery instant that I thought poor Jan's death was certain, my unclesuddenly appeared, when, aiming behind the ear of the hippopotamus, hefired, and the monster fell. Jan narrowly escaped being crushed, whichhe would have been had he not by a violent effort rolled out of the way. 

Suffering as I was, I could scarcely help laughing at Jan's face, as, getting up on his knees, he looked with a broad grin at thehippopotamus, still uncertain whether it was dead or not. At length, convinced that his enemy could do him no further harm, he rose to hisfeet, exclaiming--

"Tankee, tankee, cap'n! If de gun not go off, Jan no speak 'gain. "

Then, hurrying on, he examined the creature, to be certain that no liferemained in it. 

"What we do wid dis?" he asked, giving the huge body a kick with hisfoot. 

"As it will shortly become an unpleasant neighbour, we must manage todrag him away from the camp, " observed my uncle. "If the stream weredeep enough, I would drag it in, and let it float down with the current;but, as it would very likely get stranded close to us, we must haul itaway with the ox and the horses, though I doubt if the animals will likebeing thus employed. "

I thought the plan a good one; and my uncle told Jan to catch the horsesand ox, while he contrived some harness with the ropes and straps usedfor securing their cargoes. The ox showed perfect indifference to thedead hippopotamus, but the horses were very unwilling to be harnessed. They submitted, however, to act as leaders, while the ox had thecreature's head, round which a rope was passed, close to its heels. Even then the animals found it no easy task to drag the huge body alongover the rough ground. 

"We shall not be long gone, Fred, " said my uncle, placing a rifle and abrace of pistols close to me. "I hope that no other hippopotamus orlion or leopard will pay you a visit while we are away. If they do, youmust use these, and I trust that you'll be able to drive off thecreatures, whatever they may be. "

I felt rather uncomfortable at being left alone in the camp, but itcould not be helped; and I could only pray that another hippopotamusmight not make its appearance. This one, in all probability, came upthe stream far from its usual haunts. 

I kept my rifle and pistols ready for instant use. The time seemed verylong. As I listened to the noises in the forest, I fancied that I couldhear the roaring and mutterings of lions, and the cries of hyaenas. Several times I took my rifle in my hand, expecting to see a lionstealing up to the camp. I caught sight in the distance of the tallnecks of a troop of giraffes stalking across the country, followed soonafterwards by a herd of bounding blesboks, but no creatures came nearme. At last my uncle and Jan returned with our four-footed attendants. 

"We have carried the monster's carcase far enough off to prevent it frompoisoning us by its horrible odour when it putrifies, which it will in afew hours, " he observed. "But I am afraid that it will attract thehyaenas and jackals in no small numbers, so that we shall be annoyed bytheir howls and screechings. I am sorry to say also that the horsesseem ill able to perform their work, and I greatly fear that they havebeen injured by the tsetse fly. If we lose them we shall have adifficulty in getting along. However, we won't despair until the evilday comes. "

I should have said that my uncle, just before he rescued Jan from thehippopotamus, had shot another antelope, which he had brought to thecamp, so that we were in no want of food. 

Several days went by. Though I certainly was not worse, my recovery wasvery slow, and I was scarcely better able to travel than I was at first;though I told my uncle that I would try and ride if he wished to moveon. 

"I doubt if either of the horses can carry you, " he answered. "Both aregetting thin and weak, and have a running from their nostrils, which Jansays is the result of the tsetse poison. If you are better in a day ortwo we will try and advance to the next stream or water-hole; andperhaps we may fall in with natives, from whom we may purchase some oxento replace our horses. It will be a great disappointment to lose theanimals, for I had counted on them for hunting. "

That night we were entertained by a concert of hideous howlings andcries, produced we had no doubt by the hyaenas and jackals; but bykeeping up a good fire, and occasionally discharging our rifles, weprevented them from approaching the camp. 

At the end of two days I fancied myself better. We accordinglydetermined the next morning to recommence our journey. At daybreak webreakfasted on the remains of the last deer shot, and my uncle havingplaced me on his horse, which was the stronger of the two, put part ofits cargo on the other. Pushing on, we soon left behind the camp we hadso long occupied. 

On starting I bore the movement pretty well, and fancied that I shouldbe able to perform the journey without difficulty. For the first twodays, indeed, we got on better than I had expected, though I wasthankful when the time for camping arrived. On the third morning Isuffered much, but did not tell my uncle how ill I felt, hoping that Ishould recover during the journey. We had a wild barren tract to cross, almost as wild as the desert. The ox trudged on as patiently as ever, but the horses were very weak, and I had great difficulty in keepingmine on its legs. Several times it had stumbled, but I was fortunatelynot thrown off. Our pace, however, was necessarily very slow, and wecould discover no signs of water, yet water we must reach before wecould venture to camp. 

Jan generally led the ox, while my uncle walked by my side, holding therein of the other horse. Again and again my poor animal had stumbled;when, as my uncle was looking another way, down it came, and I wasthrown with considerable violence to the ground. 

My uncle, having lifted me up, I declared that I was not much hurt, andbegged him to replace me on the horse. The poor animal was unable torise. In vain Jan and he tried to get it on its legs. He and Jan tookoff the saddle and the remaining part of the load, but all was of nouse. At last we came to the melancholy conclusion that its death wasinevitable. Our fears were soon realised: after it had given a fewstruggles, its head sinking on the sand, it ceased to move. We hadconsequently to abandon some more of our heavier things, and havingtransferred the remaining cargo to the ox, my uncle put me on the backof the other horse. Scarcely, however, had we proceeded a mile thandown it came, and I was again thrown to the ground, this time to be morehurt than at first. 

I bore the suffering as well as I could, and made no complaint, while myuncle and Jan tried to get the horse up. It was soon apparent, however, that its travelling days were done, and that we had now the ox alone todepend upon. 

"I wish that I could walk, " I said, but when I made the attempt I couldnot proceed a dozen paces. Had not my uncle supported me I should havesunk to the ground. We could not stay where we were, for both we andour poor ox required water and food. 

"We must abandon our goods, " said my uncle; "better to lose them thanour lives. We will, however, if we can find a spot near here, leavethem _en cache_, as the Canadian hunters say; and if we soon fall inwith any friendly natives, we can send and recover them. "

He had just observed, he said, a small cave, and he thought that bypiling up some stones in front of it the things would remain uninjuredfrom the weather or wild beasts for a considerable time. 

As it was only a short distance off, while Jan remained with me, he ledthe ox to the spot. The cave, fortunately, had no inhabitant; and, having placed the goods within, and piled some stones so as completelyto block up the entrance, he returned, retaining only the powder andshot, the ostrich feathers, three or four skins, our cooking utensils, afew packages of tea, coffee, sugar, pepper, and similar articlesweighing but little. Unfortunately, in building up the wall, one of thelarger stones had dropped, and severely injured his foot. He found itso painful that he was unable to walk. He, therefore, mounting the ox, took me up before him. I, indeed, by this time could not even hold onto the saddle, so had not he carried me I should have been unable totravel. We now once more went on. It was already late in the day, andbefore long darkness overtook us; still we could not stop without water, which we hoped, however, to find before long. In a short time the moonrose and enabled us to see our way. 

The prospect was dreary in the extreme. Here and there a few treessprang out of the arid soil, while on every side were rocks with littleor no vegetation round them. We looked out eagerly for water, but mileafter mile was passed over and not a pool nor stream could we see. Isuffered greatly from thirst, and sometimes thought that I shouldsuccumb. My uncle cheered me up, and Jan declared that we should soonreach water and be able to camp. Still on and on we went. At lengthJan cried out--

"Dare water, dare water!"

I tried to lift up my head, but had not strength to move. I heard myuncle exclaim--

"Thank heaven! there's water, sure enough. I see the moonbeams playingon the surface of a pool. "

I believe I fainted, for I remember no more until I found him splashingwater over my face; and, opening my eyes. I saw him kneeling by myside. Jan was busily engaged in lighting a fire, while the ox wasfeeding not far off. A hut was then built for me, and as soon as I wasplaced in it I fell asleep. In the morning I awoke greatly revived. Myuncle said he was determined to remain at the spot until I wassufficiently recovered to travel, and I promised to get well as soon asI could. When breakfast was over he started off with his gun to try andshoot a deer, for we had just exhausted the last remnant of venison wepossessed. 

As, sheltered from the rays of the sun, I lay in my hut, which was builton a slight elevation above the lakelet, I could enjoy a fine view ofthe country in front of me. 

Jan, having just finished cleaning my gun, was engaged a little waybelow me in cutting up the wood for the fire, singing in a low voice oneof his native songs. 

Presently I caught sight of my uncle in the far distance advancingtowards a rounded hillock which rose out of the plain below. Almost atthe same moment, I saw still further off several animals which I at onceknew to be deer coming on at a rapid rate towards our camp. They weretaking a direction which would lead them close to where my uncle lay inambush. They were followed by others in quick succession, until a vastherd came scampering and bounding across the plain like an army, two orthree abreast, following each other. Twice I heard the report of myuncle's rifle. On each occasion a deer fell to the ground. 

Jan cried out that they were blesboks, one of the finest deer in SouthAfrica. They had long twisting horns, and were of a reddish colour, thelegs being much darker, with a blaze of white on the face. 

I never saw a more beautiful sight. Jan was all eagerness, and, takingmy gun, he went in chase; but before he could get near enough to obtaina shot, the whole herd was scampering away across the plain, laughing athis puny efforts to overtake them. 

In a short time my uncle appeared, carrying a portion of one of theanimals on his back, and immediately sent off Jan with the ox to fetchin the remainder. 

Here was wood and water, and game in abundance, so that we could nothave chosen a better spot for remaining in until I was myself again. Aswe had plenty of meat he was able to concoct as much broth as I couldconsume. It contributed greatly to restore my strength; and, judging bythe progress I was making, I hoped that we should be able shortly toresume our journey. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

In a few days I was able to stroll a short distance from the camp, always taking my gun with me. Though I still walked with somedifficulty, I every hour found my strength returning. Had we possesseda waggon we might have loaded it with skins, so abundant was the game;but, although we prepared a few of the most valuable, we could notventure to add much to the cargo of our poor ox. At last my uncle, seeing that I was strong enough to undertake the fatigue of the journey, announced his intention of setting off, and I determined that it shouldnot be my fault if I broke down again. 

In order to try my strength, I accompanied him on a short shootingexcursion from the camp, where we left Jan to look after the ox and ourgoods. I found that I got along far better than I had expected; thesatisfaction of once more finding myself able to move about greatlyraising my spirits. We had gone but a short distance when looking overthe bushes we saw some objects moving up and down which, as we creptnearer, turned out to be a pair of elephant's ears. 

"We must have that fellow, " said my uncle; "we can carry his tusks, andone of his feet will afford us a substantial meal. " The elephant, wefancied, did not see us; and keeping ourselves concealed by theunderwood, we cautiously advanced. Presently we found ourselves on theborders of an open glade, a few low bushes only intervening betweenourselves and the elephant. He now saw us clearly enough, and notliking our appearance, I suppose, lifted up his trunk and begantrumpeting loudly. 

"If he comes on, don't attempt to run, " whispered my uncle, "but facehim for a moment, and fire at his shoulder; then leap on one side orbehind a tree, or if you can do so, climb up it with your rifle. I willlook out for myself. " As he spoke the elephant began to advance towardsus. I fired, as did my uncle, the moment afterwards; but, though weboth hit him, the huge beast, after approaching a few paces nearer, instead of charging, turned away to the left, and went crashing throughthe wood. 

We having reloaded were about to follow him, when the heads of nearly adozen other elephants appeared from the direction where we had seen thefirst; and, advancing rapidly through the shrubs which they trampledunder foot, with trunks and tail stuck out, and uttering loudtrumpetings, they came rushing like a torrent down upon us. 

"Come behind these bushes!" cried my uncle, "and don't move thence ifyou value your life. "

I felt as if my life was of very little value just then, for I could notsee how we were to escape being crushed by the huge monsters as theyrushed over us. My uncle fortunately possessed all the coolnessrequired by an elephant hunter. 

"Fire at that fellow opposite, " he cried. "I'll take the next, andthey'll probably turn aside. "

We almost at the same moment pulled our triggers. The elephant at whichmy uncle fired stopped short, then down it came with a crash on itsknees; while the one I aimed at rushed by with its companions, verynearly giving me an ugly kick with its feet. 

We had both dropped behind the bush the moment we had delivered ourfire. On went the creatures trumpeting with rage, and disappointed atnot finding us. 

We were not free from danger, for it was possible that they mightreturn. As soon, therefore, as their tails had disappeared among thebrushwood, we reloaded and ran towards some trees, the trunks of whichwould afford us some protection. Here we waited a short time in sightof the elephant which lay dead on the ground. We could hear thetrumpeting of the others grow less distinct as they made their waythrough the forest, either influenced by fear or excited by rage, fancying they were still following us up. 

"They will not come back for the present, " said my uncle at length as weissued out from among the trees, when he at once began to cut out thetusks from the dead elephant. These he calculated weighed togetherfully a hundred and ten pounds. This, however, was a greater weightthan he could carry, and he would not allow me to attempt to help him. 

"You shall convey one of the feet to the camp, and we will try our skillin cooking it, " he said, dexterously cutting it off. 

Taking a stick he ran it through the foot so that I could the moreeasily carry it. He then having shouldered one of the tusks, we set outfor the camp, well satisfied with our day's sport. 

As soon as we arrived we sent off Jan for the other tusk, as he couldeasily find the way by the track we had made; while my uncle dug a holeclose to the fire, into which he raked a quantity of ashes, and thencovered it up. After some time he again scraped out the ashes, andhaving wrapt the foot up in leaves, he put it into the hole, and coveredit up with hot earth. On the top of all he once more lit a fire, andkept it blazing away for some time. 

The fire had well-nigh burnt out when Jan returned with the other tusk. He told us that on his way back he had seen the spoors of the elephants, and that if we chose to follow them, he was sure that we should come upwith them, and should most probably find those we had wounded. 

We now uncovered our elephant's foot, which Jan pronounced to be assatisfactorily cooked as his own countrymen could have done it. Theflesh was soft and gelatinous, greatly resembling calves-head, and wasso tender that we could scoop it out with a spoon. I don't know that Iever enjoyed a meal more. Although we could not venture to load our oxwith more than the two tusks we had already obtained, my uncle, hopingsoon to fall in with Mr Welbourn, determined to try and obtain thetusks from the other two elephants we had wounded, and to leave themconcealed, until we could send for them. There was the risk, of course, of their being discovered by the natives, as we were now approaching aninhabited part of the country. We had still a couple of hours ofday-light, and as I did not feel myself fatigued with my previousexertions, my uncle agreed to allow me to accompany him, while Jan wasleft to clean the tusks and to prepare straps for carrying them on theback of the ox. 

We soon discovered the elephants' spoor, and followed it for somedistance, the splashes of blood we found here and there showing that thewounded animal had stopped to rest. It would be necessary, as weapproached them, to be cautious, as they would be on the alert and readyto revenge themselves for the injury they had received. 

We now every moment expected to come upon them. We stopped to listen;no sound could we hear to indicate that they were near us. We, therefore, went on until, reaching the top of a hillock, we caught sightof some water glittering among the trees. Advancing a little further asmall lakelet opened out before us, in the shallow part of which, nearthe shore, stood an elephant, sucking up the water with his trunk andthrowing it over his neck and shoulders. 

My uncle remarked that he was sure it was the animal we had wounded, butthat he was still too far off to give us a chance of killing him. Wewere making our way among the trees, hoping to got near without beingperceived--though that was no easy matter as he kept his sharp eyesturning about in every direction--when, from behind the grove which hadbefore concealed them, several more rushed out. 

"They see us!" cried my uncle. "We must get up among the branches andshoot them as they pass, for they will not let us escape as easily asbefore. "

Fortunately, near at hand was a tree, up which, without much difficulty, we could make our way. My uncle, going up first, helped me to followhim. 

Scarcely had we secured ourselves when the elephants came up with theirtrunks sticking out and trumpeting as loudly as before. As they kepttheir eyes on the ground, they did not see us. We fired at them as theypassed. 

We remained for some time expecting the wounded elephant to follow itscompanions, but as it did not we began to hope that it had succumbed, and that we might find it dead in the neighbourhood. We were about todescend to look for it, when the heads of three giraffes, orcamelopards, as they are sometimes called, appeared among the trees; theanimals lifting up their tall necks to crop the leaves as they advanced. As they were coming in our direction we agreed to wait. By descendingwe might frighten them. In a short time one separated from the others, and got so close that my uncle could not resist the temptation offiring. As the shot entered its neck the graceful animal sank down tothe ground, and lay perfectly dead. The other two trotted off to ashort distance, alarmed by the report; but, seeing no human foe and notknowing what had happened to their companion, they stopped and continuedbrowsing on the leaves as before. 

"The chances are that they will soon come this way, and so we cannot dobetter than remain where we are, " observed my uncle. 

We sat some time watching the graceful creatures as they stretched uptheir long necks to a remarkable height, in search of the young shootsand leaves. Presently we saw one of them turn its head and look towardsits dead companion. The next moment a lion burst out from among thebushes and sprang towards the giraffe on the ground. I had fancied thatlions never condescended to feast on a dead animal; but probably therewas still some little life in the giraffe, or, at all events, havingonly just been killed, the carcase could have had no savoury odour. Directly afterwards we heard a roar, and another lion sprang from thecover, the first replying with a roar which made the welkin ring. If wecould not kill the lions, it was evident that we should soon have noneof the meat to carry back with us. Instead, however, of beginning totear the giraffe to pieces, the lions began walking round and round itand roaring lustily, possibly thinking that it was the bait to a trap, as they are taught by experience to be wary, many of their relativeshaving been caught in traps set by the natives. So occupied were thebrutes with this matter that they did not discover us though we were atno great distance from them. 

The two giraffes, on hearing the first lion roar, had trotted off, orthey would probably have soon been attacked. 

"Stay here, Fred!" whispered my uncle to me: "I will descend and get ashot at one of those fellows--don't be alarmed. If I kill him, thechances are the other runs off. At all events, I will retreat to thetree, and do you keep ready to fire, should he follow me, while Ireload. In the meantime there is no real danger. "

I felt somewhat nervous at hearing this, though my uncle knew so wellwhat he was about that I need not have been alarmed for his safety. Before I could reply he had descended the tree. Holding his rifleready, he advanced towards the lions, but even then, as he was toleeward they did not discover him. 

He was within fifteen paces of them, when he stopped and levelled hisrifle. Just then they both saw him, and looked up as if greatlyastonished at his audacity. He fired, and the first lion, giving aspring in the air, fell over on the body of the giraffe. 

The second stopped, hesitating whether to leap on his enemy or to taketo flight. This gave my uncle time to reload when he slowly steppedback towards the tree, facing the lion, which advanced at the same pace. 

"Now, Fred! let me see what you can do, " he shouted out as he found thatthe brute had got within range of my rifle. 

I obeyed him, earnestly trusting that my shot would take effect. I feltsure that I had hit the animal, though, when the smoke cleared off, tomy dismay I saw it about to spring at my uncle. He stood as calm as ifthe creature had been a harmless sheep. Just as the lion rose from theground, I heard the crack of his rifle, and it fell back, shot throughthe heart. I quickly scrambled down to the ground to survey the giraffeand the two lions. My uncle seemed in no way elated by his victory. "If we had had our waggon we might have secured the skins, " he observed;"but as it is, we must content ourselves with some of the giraffe'sflesh, which we shall find palatable enough for want of better. "

Drawing his knife, he at once commenced operations on the giraffe. Wesoon, having secured as much of the meat as we could require, ran acouple of sticks through it and started off to return to the camp. 

Darkness, however, came down upon us before we had gone far; still, wehoped to be able to find our way. Scarcely, however, had the sun set, when the mutterings and roars of lions saluted our ears; and of coursewe had the uncomfortable feeling that at any moment one of them mightspring out on us. We cast many an anxious glance round, and kept ourrifles in our hands ready for instant use, hoping that we should havetime to see a lion before he was upon us. We had no fear at present ofhuman foes, as the country through which we were travelling wasuninhabited; though we might fall in with hunting parties, who were, however, likely to prove friendly. Besides lions, there was apossibility of our encountering hyaenas, leopards, and wolves, which, when hunting in packs, are as dangerous as in other parts of the world. 

My uncle made me go ahead, while he kept five or six paces behind, sothat, should a lion spring out at me, he might be ready to come to myassistance. We kept shouting too, to scare away any of the brutes wemost dreaded; for, savage as is the lion, he is a cowardly animal exceptwhen pressed by hunger. Fortunately the sky was clear, and the starsshining out brightly enabled us to steer our course by them; but we wenton and on, and I began to fear that we had already passed our camp. Iexpressed my apprehensions to my uncle. 

"No!" he answered, "we are all right. We shall see the fire in a shorttime, unless Jan has let it out, which is not likely. "

"But perhaps a lion may have carried him off, and killed our ox also, and we shall then be in a sad plight, " I remarked. 

"Nonsense, Fred!" he answered; "you are overtired with your long walk, and allow gloomy apprehensions to oppress you. I wish that I had notbrought you so far. "

After this I said no more, but exerted myself to the utmost; though Icould scarcely drag one foot after the other, and had it becomenecessary to run for our lives, I do not think I could have moved. Ilooked about, now on one side now on the other, and fancied that I couldsee the vast heads and shaggy manes of huge lions watching us from amongthe trees. I did not fear their roars as long as they were at adistance. At length I heard what I took to be the mutterings ofhalf-a-dozen, at least, close to us. I shouted louder than ever, to tryand drive them off. As soon as I stopped shouting I listened for myuncle's voice, dreading lest one of the brutes should have seized him. I could not stop, to look round, and I was most thankful when I againheard him shout--

"Go on, Fred; go on, my boy. We shall see Jan's camp-fire before long. I don't believe there's a lion within half a mile of us. During thenight we hear their voices a long distance off. "

At length I saw, right ahead, a glare cast on the trunks and branches ofthe trees. It was I hoped produced by our camp-fire. Again, again, weshouted; should any lions be stalking us, they were very likely tofollow our footsteps close up to our camp, and might pounce down upon usat the last moment, fearful of losing their prey. I felt greatlyrelieved on hearing Jan's shout in reply to ours; and pushing eagerlyon, we saw him sitting close to a blazing fire which he had made up. Hewas delighted to see us, for he had become very anxious at our longabsence; especially as a troop of elephants, he said, had passed closeto the camp; and, as one of them was wounded, he knew that they had beenmet with by us, and he feared might possibly have trampled us to death. He had heard, too, the roar of lions near at hand. We found thegiraffe's flesh more palatable than I had expected. As soon as we hadeaten a hearty supper we lay down to rest, Jan promising to remain awakeand keep up a blazing fire so as to scare away the lions. 

Every now and then I awoke, and could hear the roarings and mutteringsof the monarchs of the forest, which I heartily wished were sovereignsof some other part of the world. 

Greatly to my disappointment, after the fatigue I had gone through I wasunable to travel the next morning, and we had to put off our departurefor another day. 

My uncle went out for a short time, to shoot an antelope or any otherspecies of deer he could come across for provisions, as what he killedfor food one day was unfit for eating the next. 

He had been absent for some time, and as I felt that a short walk woulddo me good, I took my gun, intending not to go far from the camp. I hadsome hopes that I might come across an antelope or deer during my shortexcursion. I of course took good care to keep a look-out on eitherside, lest I should be surprised by a lion or a leopard, the animalsmostly to be feared in that region. It was not impossible that I mightfall in with an elephant, but I had no intention of attacking one if Idid, and should have ample notice of its approach, so that I might keepout of its way. I had gone about a quarter of a mile or so from thecamp, and was thinking of turning back when I reached a tree which Ifound I could easily climb, as the remains of branches stuck out almostclose to the ground. I got up for the sake of taking a survey of thecountry around, and especially over that part of it we had to travel thenext morning. I found my lofty seat very pleasant, for I was wellshaded by the thick foliage over head, while a light breeze played amongthe leaves, which was refreshing in the extreme. I had some difficultyin keeping awake, but I endeavoured to do so fearful of letting go mygun, or, perhaps, of falling to the ground myself. I did my best not tofall asleep, by singing and by occasionally getting up and lookingaround me. 

The tree grew, I should have said, on the side of a bank, with a wideextent of level ground to the eastward, dotted over with thick clumps oftrees, some large enough to be called woods; while nearer at hand, oneither side of me, the vegetation was more scattered, here and there twoor three trees only growing together. In some places single trees alonecould be seen, rising in solitary grandeur from the soil. I had justgot up when I caught sight of an elephant, which had come out from oneof the clumps I have mentioned, where it had probably been spending thehot hours of the day, and advanced slowly towards me, now plucking abunch of leaves with its trunk, now pulling up a shrub or plant. Presently I caught sight of a man with a gun in his hand coming out fromthe forest to the left and making his way towards where the elephant wasfeeding. He apparently did not see the animal, which was hidden fromhim by an intervening clump. When he got closer I recognised my uncle. Wishing to warn him of the neighbourhood of the elephant, I shouted asloudly as I could bawl; but, from the distance we were apart, he couldnot hear me. The elephant also took no notice of my voice, but went onfeeding as before. 

Presently my uncle came in sight of the monstrous beast, which must haveseen him at the same time, for it ceased feeding and turned its head inthe direction he was coming. Nothing daunted, my uncle continued toadvance, keeping, however, more to the right, which would bring himtowards the tree on which I was perched. The elephant began to movetowards him. He quickened his pace--he was now in the open ground, overwhich he was making his way, exposed to great danger. He was aware ofthis and kept his gun ready to fire, though should he miss, he would beat the mercy of the brute. I considered how I could help him, but sawit would be madness to descend the tree to fire, and therefore remainedwhere I was, praying that, should my uncle fire, his shot might besuccessful. 

Presently, up went the elephant's trunk; and, trumpeting loudly, he wentat a fast trot directly towards my uncle, who, stopping for a moment, levelled his rifle and fired; but, although the shot took effect, it didnot stop the elephant's progress. 

He had not a moment to reload--flight was his only resource. Happilynot far off was a tree, but whether its branches grew low down enough toenable him to climb up it, I could not see, and I trembled for hissafety. I shouted and shrieked, hoping to divert the attention of theelephant. It appeared to me that its trunk was not a dozen yards frommy uncle. Should it once encircle him, his fate would be sealed. Inever felt more anxious in my life. I might still stop its course Ihoped, and, raising my rifle, I fired at its head, but my bullet seemedto make not the slightest impression. I shrieked with alarm. The nextmoment I saw my uncle seize the bough of a tree which had appeared to meabove his head, when, exerting all his strength, he drew himself up. The elephant, elevating its trunk, actually touched his foot, but hedrew it beyond its reach, and quickly clambered up into a place ofsafety. The elephant stood for a moment, its trunk raised as ifexpecting him to fall, and then made a furious dash at the tree in avain endeavour to batter it down. The tree trembled from the shock butstood firm. 

The elephant then, taking my uncle's cap which had fallen off, trampledit under foot, going round and round the tree and trumpeting loudly. Itwas evidently a rogue elephant, an ill-tempered brute who had beendriven from the herd to spend a solitary existence. Such are always themost dangerous, as they appear to have a greater hatred of man and to bemore cunning than the elephants found in herds. It seemed to have madeup its mind to besiege us. Our position was unpleasant in the extreme, for while it remained we dared not descend, and for what we could tell, we might be kept up our respective trees all night, and perhaps thefollowing day, or still longer. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

My uncle and I felt far from happy up our trees. He had had nothing toeat since he left camp in the morning, and I too was getting _very_hungry. An hour or more went by, and yet the old "rogue" elephantshowed no inclination to take its departure. Fortunately it had notdiscovered my uncle's rifle, which lay concealed in the grass close tothe foot of the tree. 

He now shouted to me to try to shoot the brute. This was no easy matterperched as I was high up; and as I was not likely to hit any vital part, I feared that any shot would only contribute to increase its ragewithout bringing it to the ground or driving it off. I had but fivemore bullets in my pouch, but I determined to do my best and not throw ashot away. I waited until the animal presented its side to me, when Ifired, and the bullet struck it on the neck; but, though the bloodflowed, it seemed to take no notice of the wound. The next I plantedjust below the shoulder. The elephant uttered several loud trumpetingsand rushing again at the tree, seized the stem with its trunk, andendeavoured to pull it down. It shook violently, compelling my uncle tohold on with arms and legs. 

I quickly reloaded and fired another shot directly behind the creature'sear. I saw the blood spouting forth and flowing down until it formed apool dyeing the surrounding grass. Gradually the elephant's trunkunwound and hung down from its vast head. 

"You've done for it, " shouted my uncle; "send another shot into its neckand we shall be free. "

I was reloading while he spoke, and before the elephant altered itsfavourable position I again fired. 

Less than a minute elapsed, then down it sank on its knees. It madeseveral efforts to rise but without success--its strength was fastfailing. I had one more bullet remaining, but I wished to save it forany emergency which might occur. We had not long to wait before theelephant fell over on its side and lay an inanimate mass. 

My uncle quickly descended the tree and I followed his example. Hisfirst act was to pick up and examine his gun. It having escaped injuryhe at once reloaded, and then, shaking hands, we surveyed our fallenfoe. 

"I wish that we could carry these magnificent tusks with us, but that isout of the question, " observed my uncle. "We will, however, try tosecure them. Help me to cut them out. "

We set to work; and having fastened all the straps we could muster roundone of them, he ascended the tree in which I had taken refuge, and Iassisting him, we hauled up one of the tusks, and deposited it safelyamong the branches. The other was hauled up in the same fashion, andpretty hard work it was, as each tusk was considerably above half ahundredweight. 

"I hope that we shall be able to send for these some day or other, andwe are not likely to forget this spot in a hurry, " remarked my uncle. 

Having cut off one of the elephant's feet we ran a stick through it andstarted off for the camp. The day, however, was not to pass withoutanother adventure. We had not gone half the distance when we saw, abovethe bushes, the head and neck of a giraffe. It did not appear to bealarmed; but influenced by curiosity, instead of cantering away, it drewnearer, coming round the end of the clump, evidently wondering whatstrange creatures we could be. So interested was it that it did notnotice another and more formidable enemy which had been creeping upclose behind. This was a lion, which, engaged in stalking its prey, didnot discover us. We, therefore, could watch at a safe distance what wastaking place. The lion kept creeping on, cautious as a cat, and withmovements very similar, when, believing that it had got near enough forits purpose, with a rush and a tremendous bound, it leapt on the back ofthe giraffe before the latter could use its heels to drive off its foe. With fearful tenacity the savage creature hung on to the shoulders ofthe terrified giraffe, which bounded forward, and leapt and sprang fromside to side in a vain endeavour to shake off its foe. Not a sound didit utter, but dashed on, with head erect; while the lion was tearingaway with its teeth and claws at its shoulders and neck. There was nodoubt from the first which of the two would gain the victory. Blood wasstreaming from the neck and flanks of the poor giraffe, which veryquickly slackened its pace and then down it came, unable longer toendure the pain it was suffering. The lion at once began tearing awayat the flesh. Still it kicked, and struggled, but its efforts wereuseless, and it very quickly ceased to move. 

"We must have that lion, " said my uncle. 

Having examined our rifles we hurried towards the spot where the savagebrute was enjoying its banquet, so busily employed that it did not seeus. When at length it was aware of our approach it ceased feeding, andgazed at us with its fore paws on the body of its victim, presenting atruly magnificent spectacle. 

We were near enough by this time to take a steady aim. 

"Do you fire, Fred, and then reload as rapidly as you can, while I willwait until you are ready. "

"But I have no second bullet, " fortunately recollecting at the momentthat I had expended all my bullets but one. 

My uncle handed me a couple, and I obeyed his injunctions. My bulletpassed through the lion's thick mane and crashed into its neck. 

Uttering a tremendous roar as it felt the pain, it came towards us. Without a moment's loss of time I reloaded, fearing that, should myuncle's bullet fail to stop it, the brute would be upon us. 

Notwithstanding the lion's near approach my uncle waited, and thenfired, hitting it between the eyes. Still it advanced, but, blinded andalmost stunned, though it made a desperate bound towards us, its aim wasuncertain. My uncle sprang on one side and I on the other, when, beforeI had finished loading, over it fell, and lay dead between us. 

"A pretty good afternoon's sport, " observed my uncle. "We'll take theliberty of cutting a few steaks from the giraffe which this brute herehas hunted for us, and the sooner we get back to camp the better. "

The chief difficulty in obtaining the steaks was in cutting through thetough skin of the giraffe, which was almost as thick as that of arhinoceros. By employing our axes we soon, however, accomplished ourtask, and in a few minutes reached the camp, where Jan, who had heardour shots, had made up a large fire in expectation of any game we shouldbring. 

While the elephant foot was cooking we regaled ourselves on some fineslices of giraffe meat, which assisted to stop the cravings of hunger. All night long we were surrounded by the abominable cries of hyaenas andjackals which were collected round the carcases of the slain animals. 

It is said that they dare not touch even a dead lion, but at all eventswhen we went out to look the next morning the bones only of the twoanimals remained. 

We now once more reloaded our ox and set out northward. We remarkedthat the poor creature, in spite of its long rest, looked thinner, andin worse condition than before. 

"Him tsetse do it. You see, ox die!" exclaimed Jan. 

Still the faithful brute stepped on with its heavy load, and we hopedthat Jan was mistaken. 

At length we came in sight of a broader river than we had crossed sincewe had left the desert. 

We had no doubt that it would conduct us down to the lake, on theborders of which we hoped to find our friends encamped. How to cross itwas the difficulty. I suggested that we should construct a raft, as thereeds which fringed the bank would supply us with abundance of material. 

Not far off was a tree-covered island, the intervening space beingfilled with reeds. Leaving Jan and the ox on the shore, my uncle and Iset off to reach the island, thinking that we could there moreconveniently build our raft and launch it than from the main land. 

Plunging in among the reeds we soon found ourselves almost overwhelmed:not a breath of air could reach us, and the heat was so stifling that wealmost fainted. Still, having begun, we were unwilling to give up. 

Frequently we could only get on by leaning against the mass of reeds, and bending them down until we could stand upon them. They were mixedwith a serrated grass which cut our hands, while the whole was boundtogether by the climbing convolvulus, with stalks so strong that wecould not break them. 

Plying our axes, however, we managed to make our onward way until wegained the island, but here to our disappointment we found that we werethirty yards or more from the clear water, which was full of greatmasses of papyrus with stalks ten feet in height, and an inch and a halfin diameter. These also were bound together by the convolvulus in a waywhich made them perfectly impenetrable. While we stood on the shore ofthe island the sound of human voices reached our ears, and we saw in thedistance several canoes descending the stream. Each carried three men, two paddling and one standing up with a large harpoon attached to a ropein his hand. They were in pursuit of some large dark creatures whoseheads, just rising above the water, looked like those of enormouscart-horses. 

"They are hippopotami!" exclaimed my uncle, "and we shall see some sportpresently. "

Suddenly, down came the harpoon, and was fixed in the back of one of themonsters, which almost sprang out of the water as it felt the pain ofthe wound; then off it went, towing the canoe at a tremendous rate afterit, the end of the rope being secured to the bows, while the barb towhich the rope was attached being shaken out of its socket remainedfirmly fixed in the animal's body. 

We ran along the island to watch the canoe as long as it remained insight, but it was towed so rapidly that it soon disappeared. Presently, however, we saw another coming down the stream fast to a secondhippopotamus, not only the head but a considerable portion of the bodyof which was floating above the water. The men in the canoe werehauling themselves up closer to their prey, preparatory to plungingtheir lances or harpoons into its body. I fancied that I could almostdistinguish the savage glance of the brute's eyes. Suddenly it stopped;then, turning round, gave a rush at the canoe. 

In vain the blacks slackened the rope, and seizing their paddles, endeavoured to escape from it. With open mouth the hippopotamus rushedon the boat, and, seizing it in its enormous jaws, crushed it up as ifit had been made of paper. 

One poor fellow was caught; a fearful shriek was heard; and, directlyafterwards, we saw his body, cut in two, floating down the stream. Theother two men had disappeared, and we fancied must also have beenkilled. Again and again the animal darted at the canoe, expending hisrage upon it. 

While he was thus employed the two men rose to the surface and instantlymade for the shore, dragging the end of the rope by a path we had notbefore observed, between the reeds. With wonderful activity they madeit fast to the trunk of a tree. Directly afterwards three other canoesarrived, and the men, armed with harpoons and heavy spears, jumping onshore, joined their companions in hauling in on the rope attached to thehippopotamus. In vain the monster struggled, endeavouring to tearitself away from the rope. The blacks with wonderful boldness rushedinto the water, darting their spears at it. It had seized the shaft ofthe harpoon, which had broken in two, and was endeavouring to bitethrough the rope. 

Two other canoes now came up and their crews attacked the hippopotamusin the rear. So engaged were the hunters that they did not observe us. As we watched their proceedings it appeared very probable that in spiteof its wounds the hippopotamus would break away. Seeing this, my uncleunslung his rifle and advanced towards the monster, which had alreadysevered several strands of the rope. As it opened its vast mouth, hefired down its throat, and it almost instantly, giving anotherconvulsive struggle, rolled over. 

His success was greeted with triumphant shouts by the hunters who hadonly just before discovered us. Having drawn the body of thehippopotamus up to the dry land, the blacks crowded round us, and bysigns and exclamations expressed their admiration of the way in which myuncle had killed the creature. 

We tried to explain that we were very happy to have been of service tothem, and that we should feel obliged, if, in return, they would ferryus across the river, and guide us to the waggons of the white men whohad encamped not far off. 

Leaving the hunters to cut up the hippopotamus, and stow its flesh onboard their canoes, we returned to where we had left Jan and the ox. Asit was getting late, we agreed to remain where we were until thefollowing day, --in the meantime to try to shoot an antelope or deer ofsome sort which would enable us to provide a feast for the natives bywhom we might be visited. 

I was fortunate enough, while lying down among some rocks near our camp, to kill a springbok, one of the most light and elegant of the gazelletribe; but its companions, of which it had several, bounded off at sorapid a rate that I had no chance of killing another. I, therefore, lifting my prize on my shoulder, returned to camp, where my uncle soonafter arrived, laden with the flesh of a quagga, which, althoughbelonging to the family of asses, is good food. 

Scarcely had we put on some meat to cook, when half a dozen of ouracquaintances arrived. It was satisfactory to find that Jan understoodtheir language. They appeared to be well-disposed towards us, and ourfriendship was cemented by the feast of quagga flesh which we got readyfor them. We ourselves, however, preferred the more delicate meat ofthe springbok. We kept some of the meat for our next day's breakfast, and offered the remainder to our guests, which they quickly stowed away. 

They undertook to convey us down the river the following morning intheir canoes, or on a raft, observing that, if we went in the canoes, wemust be separated, as each could carry only one of us. We, therefore, determined to trust to a raft, such as we ourselves had proposedbuilding. Our guests retired for a short distance from us, and formed acamp by themselves for the night. 

I awoke about two hours before dawn, when my attention was attracted toa peculiar noise which I might liken to a low grunting and the tread ofnumberless feet. As day broke, I saw the ground to the southwardcovered with a dense mass of deer moving slowly and steadily on towardsan opening in a long range of hills to the east. They appeared to be inno hurry, but continued feeding as they went. I aroused my uncle, whopronounced them to be springboks, one of which I had shot on theprevious evening migrating for the winter to the northward. They werebeautiful animals, graceful in form, of a light cinnamon red on theback, fading into white on the under part of the body, a narrow band ofreddish brown separating the two colours. As far as the eye couldreach, the whole country seemed alive with them, --not only the plain butthe hill-side, along which they bounded with graceful leaps. 

Our guests on the previous evening had disappeared, but they quicklycame back with a large party of their tribe, and gave us to understandthat they could not escort us down to the river for the present, as theymust set out to attack the springboks, and hoped that we would accompanythem. 

This my uncle and I at once agreed to do, and, supplying ourselves witha good stock of ammunition, we set off with the first party thatstarted. Our friends led us at a rapid rate over the hills by a shortcut, so that we might intercept the animals, as they passed through themountains. Another party, we found, remained behind, to drive themthrough, or prevent them turning back when frightened by our presence. We were only just in time, for already the leaders of the herd had madetheir appearance. As we approached the mouth of the gorge, while someof the hunters rushed up the hills, and stationed themselves on eitherside, so as to dart their javelins at the passing deer, others took postat the mouth of the gorge, thus preventing the egress of the animals, without coming within range of their weapons. 

Now a scene of slaughter commenced such as I have seldom witnessed. Theleaders of the herd turned to retreat, but were met by the party who hadremained on the other side shrieking and shouting, and knocking thehandles of their spears against their shields. Some of the animalstried to escape up the mountains, others dashed forward to our veryfeet, and many fell down killed by terror itself. We shot a few, butthe slaughter seemed so unnecessary that we refrained from again firing, and would gladly have asked the natives to desist; but while the animalswere in their power, they would evidently have refused to do so. 

Happily the affrighted deer found an opening, which, from the excessivesteepness of the path, had been neglected. Through this a considerablenumber made their escape, and were soon beyond the reach of theirmerciless pursuers. 

The natives now began to collect the animals they had slain, and eachman returned in triumph with a springbok on his shoulders. 

We, not to be outdone, each carried one of those we had shot, and apretty heavy load it was. I was thankful when we got back to the camp, where we cooked a portion of the venison. 

As we might have felt sure, the natives, having plenty of food, were notat all disposed to move from the spot, and, indeed, continued feastingthe whole of the next day. On the following, they were so gorged thatthey were utterly unable to make any exertion. Had an enemy been near, and found them in this condition, the whole tribe might have been killedor carried off into captivity. 

We in the meantime explored the banks of the river until we found aconvenient spot for forming our raft. In most places the reeds extendedso far from the shore that during the operation we should have had tostand up to our middles in water among them, with the risk of beingpicked up by a crocodile or hippopotamus, both of which delectablecreatures were, in considerable numbers, frequenters of the stream. 

As the blacks still showed no inclination to accompany us, Janvolunteered to return for the elephant's tusks and other articles we hadleft behind, if I would go with him. 

To this my uncle somewhat demurred, but, at last, when I pressed thepoint, he consented to remain in charge of the goods we had broughtwhile we set off on our expedition. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

At daybreak Jan and I set off, he as usual leading the ox, while Iwalked ahead with my rifle, ready for a shot. Our baggage consisted ofa couple of skins to sleep on, a stock of ammunition, a small portion ofour remnant of flour, tea, sugar, and pepper. We had no fear of notfinding food, as game of all sorts was abundant, provided I kept myhealth, and was able to shoot it. 

I asked Jan what he thought of the ox which looked remarkably thin. 

"No good!" he answered; "last till get back, but not more--den him die. "

I trusted that the poor animal would hold out as long as he supposed. 

We rested at noon under an enormous acacia, of the younger branches ofwhich the elephants are apparently very fond. We saw that they wereeverywhere twisted off to the height of about twenty-five feet, which isas far as an elephant can reach. 

Here and there, under the trees, were conical hills twenty feet high, built up for residences by the white ants. Frequently they were coveredwith creeping plants which met at the top, hanging back in an umbrellashape, completely shading them. I shot several doves and other birds toserve us for dinner, and while Jan was cooking them I went in search offruit, and discovered an abundance of medlars very similar to those wehave in England, as well as some small purple figs growing on bushes. The most curious fruit I met with was like a lime in appearance, with athick rind, but inside was a large nut. I had to climb a tree to obtainthem, for all those lower down had been carried off by elephants whowere evidently very fond of the fruit. 

As our object was to make as much haste as possible, I was resolved notto go out of the way to shoot any large game, though I kept my rifleloaded with ball as a defence against lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, orhyaenas. 

The first day's journey we saw several in the distance, though none camenear us. We formed our camp at the foot of a tree, with a large fire infront of us, and on either side of the trunk we erected a fence of stoutstakes in a semi-circular form; so we hoped that we should be able tosleep without being molested by wild beasts. The ox remained outside, and we knew that he would run to the fire, should danger threaten him. 

The usual cries proceeding from an African forest prevented us fromsleeping over soundly, and I was awakened by the roar of a lion, whichstood on a mound some little distance from our camp, afraid ofapproaching near our fire, and the palisade which he probably took for atrap. 

We had exhausted our stock of wood during the night, and in the morningJan went out to procure a fresh supply for cooking our breakfast. I wasemployed in plucking some birds which I had killed in the evening, whenI heard my companion shouting lustily for help, and at the same time, aloud crashing of boughs reached my ears, while the ox came hurrying upto the camp in evident alarm. 

Seizing my rifle, I sprang up, fearing that a lion had pounced down uponJan, while picking up sticks, and I was fully prepared for an encounterwith the savage brute. Instead of a lion, however, I saw an elephant, with trunk uplifted, rush out from among the brushwood. I sprang behinda tree, as the only place of safety, when what was my dismay, to see, ashe passed, Jan clinging to his hind leg. How the black had got therewas the puzzle, and how to rescue him from his awkward position was thenext question to be solved. Should he let go, he might naturally expectto receive a kick from the elephant's hind foot which would effectuallyknock all the breath out of his body; and yet, should he not get free, he might be carried miles away and perish miserably. My only hope wasat once to mortally wound the elephant. Not a moment was to be lost ifI was to save poor Jan. Just then the elephant caught sight of the ox, and stopped as if considering if he should attack it. Whether he wasaware that Jan was clinging to his leg or not, I could not tell, as theblack's weight no more impeded him than a fly would a man when running. 

The ox, instead of endeavouring to escape, presented its head to theelephant, though it trembled in every limb. 

Jan, who seemed paralysed with fear, did not let go as I thought hewould have done, and his best chance would have been to spring back, even though he had fallen on the ground directly behind the elephant. Idid not like to shout to him for fear of attracting the creature'sattention. 

Now or never was my time to save the poor fellow. I stepped from undercover of the tree, and, levelling my rifle, aimed at a spot directlybehind the ear. 

The huge monster did not move, then presently it began swaying to andfro. I shouted to Jan to leap off and hurried on to help him. Before Ireached the spot, he had followed my advice, and hardly had he done so, than down came the elephant with a crash, to the ground. Jan raised ashout of triumph. 

"De master hab done well!" he cried out. I could not help joining him, and even the ox gave a bellow of satisfaction as he saw his huge foestretched lifeless on the ground. 

We at once set to work to extract the tusks with our axes. Rather thanleave them, we agreed to take them with us. We therefore placed them onthe back of our ox, together with some slices of elephant meat whichwould prevent the necessity of shooting game during the day. 

We now pushed forward for the cave where we had left our goods, and metwith no adventures worth noticing. We saw numerous herds of antelopes, giraffes, and a few ostriches. The latter I would have killed if Icould, for the sake of their valuable feathers. The cave had beenuntouched, and it was with no small satisfaction that I loaded up the oxwith its contents, as we prepared to set off the next morning on ourreturn, intending, on our way back, to obtain the elephant's tusks wehad deposited in the tree, which had afforded me such seasonable shelterwhen attacked by their owner. 

We met as before buffaloes, elands, koodoos, and various antelopes. AsI was walking along ahead, suddenly I found my face enveloped as if by athick veil; and as I was tearing off the web--for such it was--I caughtsight of a large yellow spider, hauling himself up to the tree above. In the neighbourhood were many other webs, the fibres radiating from acentre point where the greedy insect was waiting for its prey. 

Each web was about a yard in diameter, and the lines on which they werehung, suspended from one tree to another, were as thick as coarsethread. We occasionally met with serpents, but they generally kept outof our way. 

One day, during a halt, while seated under a tree, I caught sight ofanother enormous spider of a reddish tinge. Never did I see a creatureso active. It suddenly made its appearance from a hole in the bark, andgiving a tremendous bound, caught a large moth which it quicklydevoured. With wonderful rapidity it ran about the tree, now dartingforward, now springing back. With a feeling of horror lest it shouldspring upon me, I removed to a distance. On looking down on the ground, I saw what I at first thought was a coin the size of a shilling; but onlooking closer I discovered that it was of a pure white silky substancelike paper, and that it formed the door to a hole. On trying to lift itup I discovered that it was fastened by a hinge on one side, and onturning it over upon the hole it fitted exactly--the upper side beingcovered with earth and grass, so that, had it not been for thecircumstance that the inmate had been out, I could not possibly havedetected it. Jan said it was the hole of a spider, probably thecreature I had seen engaged in seeking its prey. 

While encamped that night, I heard the crashing of heads and horns. Jantold me it was caused by a troop of buffaloes who were fighting. Presently a loud snorting and puffing reached our ears. The uproarincreased, and he declared that the noise was produced by rhinocerosesand buffaloes quarrelling. My fear was that in their heady fight theanimals might come our way and trample over us, or perhaps therhinoceroses would attack our poor ox, who was but ill able to defendhimself. 

While I was looking out beyond our camp-fire I caught sight of a herd ofelephants, the huge males going first, followed by the females, on theirway down to a large pool where they were going to drink. I followedthem cautiously until they entered the water. 

Having satisfied their thirst, they began throwing it over themselvesand disporting in the cool element, gambolling and rolling about like aparty of schoolboys bathing. As I could not have carried away theirtusks, I did not attempt to shoot one but left them unmolested. After awhile I saw them returning by the way they had come, appearing in theuncertain light like huge phantoms so noiselessly did they stalk overthe ground. 

It is strange that, huge as the elephant is, from the soft padding ofits feet, the sound of its steps is not heard even on hard ground. Itsapproach is only to be discovered by the snapping of boughs and twigs asit makes its way among the brushwood. 

We were but a short distance from the spot where we had left theelephant's tusks, one of the objects of our expedition. I felt verysure of the place, as the adventure we had there met with had marked itin my memory. 

I was going up to the tree followed by Jan, when I saw an object movingamong the branches. This made me approach cautiously, and fortunately Idid so, for on looking up, I caught sight of an enormous leopard, whichprobably had been attracted by the smell of the flesh still adhering tothe roots of the tusks. As the creature had got possession of the tree, I had first to dislodge him before I could obtain our tusks; that theywere still there I discovered by seeing their points sticking out beyondthe forks of the boughs where we had deposited them. I knew theleopard's habit of leaping down on passing animals, and thought it mightattempt to catch me in the same manner. I therefore stood at adistance, but though I shouted at the top of my voice, and threw piecesof wood at it, it held its post, snarling and growling savagely. 

"Better shoot him, or he come down when no tinkee, " cried Jan, who hadremained with the ox at a safe distance. 

As we were in a hurry to move on, I saw that the sooner I did this thebetter, but it was important to shoot it dead, for should I miss or onlywound it, it might make its leap before I had reloaded, and attack meand Jan. 

I advanced, and taking good aim, pulled the trigger, but what was mydismay to find my gun miss fire, while at the same moment the leopardmade a spring from a high bough on which it was perched. I expected thenext instant to feel its fangs in my neck, and be struck to the groundby its sharp claws; but happily its feet caught in some of the creepingvines which were entwined round the tree, and it very nearly cametoppling to the ground on its head. Recovering itself, however, itpitched on a lower bough. 

I, in the meantime, endeavouring to be calm, cleaned out the nipple ofmy gun, and put a fresh cap on; then retiring a few paces while thecreature gazed down upon me, about to make another spring, I fired atits head, into which the bullet buried itself, and down it crashed tothe ground. 

I leaped back, and reloading, stood ready to give it another shot, butthis was unnecessary; after a few convulsive struggles, it lay helplesson the ground. On drawing near I found that it was dead. The skinbeing a handsome one, I determined to secure it. With Jan's assistance, I soon had it off and placed on the back of the ox. I now ascended thetree, and found that though the ends of the tusks were gnawed, they werenot otherwise injured. 

With the aid of Jan I lowered them down, and secured them to the back ofthe ox. The poor brute was now overloaded, but as we had not far to go, I hoped that it would be able to carry its burden that short distance. 

Had I been strong I would have endeavoured to carry some of the load, but I found my gun and ammunition, with the birds I occasionally shot, quite enough for me. At length, greatly to my satisfaction, we drewnear the spot where I had left my uncle on some high ground overlookingthe river. Every moment I thought that our poor ox would give in. 

We might, I suspect, have been indicted by the Society for thePrevention of Cruelty to Animals, had we been seen urging on the ox, butwe had no choice, for had we abandoned our goods, the natives would havetaken possession of them. At last, as evening was approaching, wecaught sight of my uncle's camp-fire. We shouted, as he did in return, when he came hurrying down the hill to meet us. 

"What poor brute have you got there?" he exclaimed, after welcoming us. 

When I told him it was our old ox, he would scarcely believe it to bethe same animal. Hardly was the burden off its back, and Jan was aboutto lead it down to the water, than the poor creature, giving aconvulsive shudder, fell to the ground, and in a few minutes was dead, having faithfully performed its duty to the last. I felt more sad thanI could have supposed it possible, as I assisted my uncle and Jan indrawing away the carcase from the camp. We had not dragged it far, before some natives arrived, who relieved us of all further trouble, saying that they would take it to their camp, and eat it in spite of itshaving died from the effects of the tsetse poison, which we warned themwas the case. 

My uncle told me that he had prepared a raft, which would convey us andour goods down the river to where Mr Welbourn's camp was situated, andthat he had engaged a couple of canoes and a party of natives toaccompany us. Instead of the howling of wild beasts, we were serenadedduring the night by the shouts of laughter and songs of the blacksfeasting on the carcase of the poor ox. It was quite as well, however, that it should be eaten by them, as by jackals, which would have beenits fate had it died in the wilderness. 

Next morning, assisted by the blacks, we carried our goods down to theriver, where we found a curious raft constructed of reeds. It appearedto me loosely thrown together, somewhat like the top of a floatinghaystack. My uncle said that the natives had formed it by throwing onthe calm water a number of reeds, which were interlaced together. Thenothers were added, until the lower sank by the weight of those pressedupon them, it being built up until it rose to a sufficient height abovethe surface to bear as many men and as much cargo as it was required tocarry. In the centre was stuck a mast to which a sail made of skins, was twisted, while a long oar projecting astern served to guide it. Notwithstanding the assurances of the natives that it was fit to performa long voyage, I was glad of the attendance of the canoes. 

All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, weshoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, setsail. Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on withgreat rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep upwith us. 

It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne alongwithout having to exert ourselves. The voyage, however, was not withoutits dangers. Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly headalongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it mighteasily have done with one heave of its back. Occasionally, too, crocodiles would swim by, looking up at us with their savage eyes, showing us how we should be treated should we by any chance be sentsplashing into the water. About mid-day we steered for the shore whereour black crew intimated that they intended to dine. 

The raft was secured by a rope round the mast and carried to the trunkof a tree. We, however, were unwilling to leave our goods on boardwithout a guard, and therefore determined to remain where we were and toeat a cold meal; the materials for which we had brought with us. Thewater appearing bright and tempting, I was about to plunge overboard, when I felt the raft give a heave. Directly afterwards, a hugecrocodile poked his ugly snout above the surface, warning me that I hadbetter remain where I was. Two or three others made their appearancesoon afterwards in the neighbourhood. My uncle and I agreed that thesooner we were away from the spot the better, as any of the savagebrutes coming under the raft might upset it, and we should be committedto their tender mercies. 

We were very glad, therefore, when the blacks, having finished theirmeal, returned on board, and we once more began to float down thestream. 

We were in hopes that at the rate we were proceeding we should meet ourfriends before the close of the day, but darkness approached, and theblacks gave us to understand that we must go on shore and spend thenight at a village of their tribe, where we should be hospitablyentertained. To this we could offer no objection, though it involvedthe necessity of landing our goods, as we had no fancy to spend the timeon the raft, with the prospect of finding it melting away below ourfeet, and we ourselves left to be devoured by the crocodiles, orperhaps, to have it capsized by the heave of an hippopotamus beneath it. 

As we glided on, we saw a collection of bee-hive looking huts on the topof the south bank. The raft was directed towards them. The natives, leaping on shore, secured it as before by a rope to a tree growing onthe beach. They then assisted in carrying our property to the shore. Having piled it up in a heap and covered it over with a roof of leaves, they assured us that it would be as safe as if guarded by a hundred men. As they had hitherto shown themselves to be scrupulously honest, we hadno reason to doubt them on this occasion; and we, therefore, willinglyaccompanied them to the village, whence a number of people issued forthto greet us. They then conducted us to a newly built hut, the inside ofwhich was as clean as we could desire, the floor covered with freshlymade mats. There we could more securely rest than we had been able todo for a long time. We were, however, not yet allowed to enter it; afeast was preparing at which it was expected we should be present, afterwhich there was to be a dance for our entertainment. For the feast afat ox had been killed, part being roasted and part stewed. Some ofboth was placed before us, together with huge bowls of porridge, whichour entertainers mixed with their fingers, and transferred by the samemeans to their mouths in large quantities. They looked somewhatsurprised when we hesitated to follow their example, but consideringthat it would show mistrust, we at last overcame our repugnance. Theporridge itself was certainly not bad, and our hosts laughed heartily asthey saw how we burnt our fingers and made wry faces. The whole waswashed down with huge draughts of pombe, a sort of beer, with slightlyintoxicating properties. We did not inquire too minutely as to how itwas made. The feast over, we heard an extraordinary uproar proceedingfrom another part of the village, a sound between the barking of dogsand people endeavouring to clear their throats. On going in thedirection whence the strange sounds came, we found several men withspears in their hands and anklets of shells fastened round their legs, bending over a small fire, and producing the melancholy noises which hadattracted our attention. Others danced round them rattling theiranklets, while a party of women forming an outer semicircle sang amonotonous chant and clapped their hands. The old men and women, thesenior inhabitants of the village, whom we were invited to join, sat onthe opposite side, spectators of the performance. In the meantime theyoung men and boys were prancing about, now advancing to the girlsbeating the ground, rattling their anklets, and creating an enormousquantity of dust. 

These proceedings had gone on for some time, when a gay youth, evidentlythe leader among them, snatching a brand from the fire after dancing upto the girls, stuck it in the ground, when he began to leap round andover it, for a considerable time, taking care not to touch it. 

After these various scenes had been enacted, a number of young men, representing a war party returning victorious from battle, made theirappearance, and brandishing their broad-headed spears, ornamented withflowing ox-tails. Now they rushed off, as if to pursue an enemy; nowreturned, and were welcomed by a chorus from the women. 

The scene was highly effective; the glare of the fire being reflected onthe red helmet-like gear and glittering ornaments of the girls, on theflashing blades and waving ox-tails on the warriors, and the figures ofthe spectators, with the huts and groups of cattle in the distance, while the howling, chanting, shrieking, and barking sounds were kept upwithout intermission. We, at last, making signs to the chief that wewere very weary, placing our heads on our hands and closing our eyes, were led ceremoniously to our hut, into which we were thankful to enter. Having closed the entrance we lay down and tried to go to sleep. Thenoises which reached our ears showed us, however, that the dance wasbeing kept up with unabated spirit, and I suspect that our hosts formedbut a mean opinion of our tastes in consequence of our disappearing fromthe festive scene. 

Next morning, having bestowed a few remaining trinkets to delight thehearts of the black damsels, we wished our hospitable entertainersfarewell and continued our voyage, not an article of our property havingbeen purloined. 

Our raft clung together far better than I should have supposed, but Isuspect, had it struck a rocky bottom, the case would have been verydifferent. We passed by herds of hippopotami, some with young ones ontheir backs, and although they sank as we approached, they soon came tothe surface to breathe. On the trees overhead were numbers of iguanas, which, on seeing us, splashed into the water. The chief canoemancarried a light javelin, with which he speared a couple, the fleshproving to be tender and gelatinous. 

Numerous large crocodiles, as we appeared, plunged heavily into thestream, indeed there was everywhere an abundance of animal life. Had wenot been anxious to join our friends, we should have been contented tocontinue the voyage for several days longer. 

Another evening was approaching when we espied beneath a huge tree whatlooked like a tent and a couple of waggons near it. We fired off ourguns as a signal, and in a short time we saw two white men comingtowards us. We quickly landed in one of the canoes, and were soonshaking hands with Mr Welbourn and his son Harry. 

CHAPTER SIX. 

Mr Welbourn had a good stock of ammunition, and with the supply webrought it was considered that we had sufficient to enable us tocontinue the journey northward into a region where elephants abounded. The cattle were in good condition, and, provided we could escape thetsetse and were not cut off by savage enemies, we might expect to obtainfull loads of tusks. Besides three Hottentot drivers and a dozenMakololo, Mr Welbourn was accompanied by a white hunter, Hans Scarff, who had joined him on his way from the coast. His appearance was not inhis favour, for a more sinister countenance I had seldom met with. He, however, was said to be a bold hunter and a first-rate horseman, and hisassistance was therefore likely to prove useful. 

The head man of the Makololoes, Toko, as he was called, was a fine, tall, active fellow with an intelligent countenance, who, if nothandsome according to our notion, was good-looking for a black, and abrave faithful fellow. Besides the oxen to drag the waggons, we hadeight fine horses, most of them well trained to encounter the elephantand rhinoceros, or any other wild beasts of the forest. 

Near our camp a stream of clear water fell into the river, and in theevening Harry asked me to go down and bathe. Hans said he would joinus. 

"Are there no crocodiles there?" I asked, and I told him of the numbersI had seen in the river. 

"No fear of the brutes there, " answered Hans; "the water is tooshallow--"

"Or hippopotami, " I put in. 

"Still less likely, " said Hans. "The monsters never come up suchstreams as these. "

We started off, and on reaching the stream separated from each other. While looking out for a clear pool free from lilies, or other aquaticplants, presently. Harry, who had gone up the stream, cried out--

"I've found a capital place. We can leap into deep water from thebank. "

Just then I heard my uncle shout out--

"Where are you going, boys? The crocodiles come up here to lay theireggs. It is as dangerous a part as any in the country. "

At that moment Harry shouted out, "Hulloa! I'm in!"

I was rushing to his assistance, when I heard a fearful cry from Hans, who, his foot slipping, had fallen into the water. As he did so, a hugecrocodile darted across the stream. 

My uncle and Mr Welbourn were descending the bank, and were much nearerthan I was. I was undecided to whose assistance I should run, when, tomy horror, I saw the crocodile seize Hans by the arm, before he couldregain his feet. I fortunately had my large hunting-knife in my belt, though I had not; brought my rifle. Little as I liked Hans, I felt thatit was my duty to go to his assistance. Unless I did so he would bequickly dragged off into deep water, and become the prey of thecrocodile. Seeing that his father and my uncle had already got hold ofHarry, drawing my hunting-knife I dashed forward, shouting with all mymight to try to frighten the savage brute. Hans had caught hold of thebranch of a fallen tree, which he grasped with his left arm, holding onto it for his life. Every moment I expected to see him let go, when hisfate would have been sealed. Not for an instant did I think of thedanger I was running. I can scarcely even now understand how I acted asI did. With a single bound I sprang over the branches close to the headof the crocodile, and seizing the man with one hand, I plunged the knifeinto the eye of the monster, who immediately opened his jaws, and as hedid so, Hans, with an activity I could scarcely have expected, hauledhimself up to the top of the bough, where I sprang after him, while thecrocodile, giving a whisk of his tail which nearly knocked us off ourperch, retreated into deep water, the next instant to turn lifeless onits back, when, floating down a few yards, its huge body was brought upby a ledge of rocks which projected partly out of the water. 

"Well done, Fred, my boy, " shouted my uncle and Mr Welbourn in chorus. 

Having placed Harry on the bank they hurried forward to assist me inlifting Hans off the bough to which he was clinging, and to place himbeside Harry. For some seconds he lay, scarcely knowing what hadhappened. On examining his arm, though it was fearfully crushed, wonderful as it may seem, no bone was actually broken. After a littletime he revived, and, accompanied by Harry, we led him back to the camp. My uncle exerted all his medical skill to doctor him, and the nextmorning, though his arm was useless, he was able to move about as wellas ever. He did not exhibit any special feeling of gratitude to me, butI won the good opinion of the natives, and of Toko in particular. Hadanybody told me that I should have been able to perform the act, Ishould have declared it was impossible, and all I know is that I did it. 

As all the ivory in the neighbourhood for which we had goods to give inexchange had been purchased, we pushed forward to the north-east to acountry inhabited by tribes which had hitherto had little or nointercourse with Europeans. It is not, however, my object so much todescribe the people as the adventures we met with. I cannot exactly saywith the naval officer, who, describing the customs of the people hevisited, in his journal wrote, "Of manners they have none, and theircustoms are beastly. " Savage those we met were in many respects, buttheir savagery arose from their ignorance and gross idolatry. 

We travelled in a very luxurious manner, compared to our journey withthe single ox across the desert. As we advanced we saw numbers of largegame, and one evening nearly a hundred buffaloes defiled before us inslow procession, almost within gun-shot, while herds of elands passed uswithout showing any signs of fear. We at the moment had abundance ofmeat in the camp, or some of them would have fallen victims to ourfire-arms. 

The next day, seeing a herd of zebras in the distance, taking my rifle, I started off, hoping to shoot one of them. As the wind was from themto me, and as there were some low bushes, I expected to get up to themwithin gun-shot, before they perceived me. I was not disappointed; and, firing, I wounded one of them severely in the leg. The rest of the herdtook to flight, but the wounded animal went off towards our camp, fromwhich several of our men issued to attack it. 

I was walking along leisurely when, hearing the sound of feet in thedirection from which I had come, I turned round and saw a solitarybuffalo galloping towards me. The nearest place of safety was a tree, but it was upwards of a hundred yards off. I had, of course, reloaded, and now got my rifle ready, hoping to hit the brute in the forehead. Just then the thought occurred to me, "What would be my fate should mygun miss fire?" The buffalo came on at a tremendous speed, butfortunately a small bush in its way made it swerve slightly and exposeits shoulder. Now was the moment for action, and as I heard the bulletstrike the animal I fell flat on my face. The buffalo bounded on overmy body, apparently not perceiving me. I lay perfectly still. It hadgot to a considerable distance, when it was met by the men who had comeout to kill the zebra, and was quickly shot down. 

Toko shook his head when he saw me, exclaiming that I must not go outagain without him, lest I should be killed by some savage animal. 

"But I have my rifle to defend myself, " I observed. 

"Your rifle may miss fire sometimes, or you may fail to kill theelephant or rhinoceros you attack better have two rifles. I will gowith you, " he answered, in his peculiar lingo. 

Our plan was always to encamp near water, and where we could obtain woodfor our fires; for such regions were certain to be frequented by avariety of animals. Sometimes we remained two or three days in the samespot, provided no villages were near; though people were generallygrateful to us for destroying the wild beasts, as even the elephants areapt to injure their plantations by breaking in and trampling over them. 

Harry and I, who had become fast friends, generally went out together, accompanied by Toko, sometimes on foot, sometimes on horseback. One daywe had all three gone out on foot, prepared for any game. That we mightbe more likely to fall in with some creature or other, we separated ashort distance; keeping, however, within hail, and agreeing that, shouldone of us shout, the other two were to close in towards him. I was inthe centre, Toko on the left, and Harry on the right. 

We had gone some distance when I heard Toko shout, "Elephant, elephant!"I uttered the same cry to Harry, but he did not apparently hear me, and, at all events, I could not see him. After running for thirty orforty yards, I caught sight of Toko up a tree. He cried out to me toclimb another a short distance off, the branches of which would affordan easy ascent. Wishing to follow his advice, I was running along, whenmy foot caught in a creeper and I fell to the ground with considerableforce, letting my rifle drop as I did so, but in vain attempted toregain my legs, so severely had I sprained my ankle. I naturally calledto Toko to come to my assistance. He did not move or reply, butcontinued shouting and shrieking at the top of his voice. What was myhorror just then to see a huge elephant, with trunk uplifted, burst outfrom among the trees on one side, while, at the same moment, a largelion approached with stealthy steps on the other. I gave myself up forlost, expecting to be carried off in the jaws of the lion, or trampledto death by the feet of the elephant. Toko sat immovable, with hisrifle levelled at the lion's head, and just as the brute was about tomake its fatal spring he fired. As he did so, I saw the elephant, startled by the sound, swerve on one side, its feet passing close towhere I lay, but it did not appear even to see me. Away it went, trumpeting loudly and crashing through the underwood. 

The next instant Toko leaped down from his perch and hurried towards me, when, turning my head, I caught sight of the lion struggling on itsback, and attempting to regain its feet. Toko, lifting me in his arms, carried me a few paces off, and taking up my rifle again approached thelion and shot it dead. Almost at the same instant the sound of anotherrifle reached our ears. 

"Go and help Harry, " I said to Toko; "he may want your assistance. "

"I place you in safer place dan dis, " he answered; and, again taking meup, he propped me against the root of a large tree close by; thenreloading my rifle, he put it into my hands. He next reloaded his own. 

"I must go and help Harry, " he said; and away he bounded. 

I had wished him to go and assist my friend, but scarcely had hedisappeared than the dreadful idea came into my head that another lion--companion of the one just killed--might be prowling about and discoverme. In spite of the pain I suffered, I endeavoured to rise on my knees, so that should one appear I might take a better aim than I could lyingdown. Still, should my apprehensions be realised, I felt that I shouldbe placed in a very dangerous predicament. One thing, however, wascertain, that it could not be worse than the one from which I had justescaped. Few people have been situated as I have been, with a lionabout to spring from one side, and an elephant appearing on the other. 

Doing my best to keep up my spirits, I listened attentively to try andascertain what was happening to Harry. Presently there was more loudtrumpeting and directly afterwards two shots were fired in rapidsuccession. This assured me that Harry had escaped and that Toko hadreached the scene of action. The Makololo was too clever andexperienced an elephant hunter to be taken at disadvantage, and I hadgreat hopes that he had succeeded in killing the animal. 

I did not forget my fears about another lion, and cast my eyes anxiouslyaround almost expecting to see one emerge from the thicket, while at thesame time I looked out eagerly for the return of my friend. 

Once more the trumpeting burst forth, the sounds echoing through theforest. I thus knew that the elephant had not yet fallen. A minuteafterwards I heard the crashing of boughs and brushwood some way off. Iguessed, as I listened, that the animal was coming towards where I lay. The sounds increased in loudness. Should it discover me it wouldprobable revenge itself by crushing me to death, or tossing me in theair with its trunk. I had my rifle ready to fire. There was a chancethat I might kill it or make it turn aside. The ground where I laysloped gradually downwards to a more open spot. I expected the nextinstant that the elephant would appear. It did so, but further off thanI thought it would, and I thus began to hope that I should escape itsnotice. It was moving slowly, though trumpeting with pain and rage. The instant I caught sight of it another huge creature rushed out of thethicket on the opposite side of the glade. It was a huge bullrhinoceros with a couple of sharp-pointed horns one behind the other. 

The elephant on seeing it stopped still, as if wishing to avoid acontest with so powerful an antagonist, I fully expected to witness along and terrible fight, and feared that, in the struggle, the animalsmight move towards where I lay and crush me. That the elephant waswounded I could see by the blood streaming down its neck. This probablymade it less inclined to engage in a battle with the rhinoceros. Instead of advancing it stood whisking its trunk about and trumpeting. The rhinoceros, on the contrary, after regarding it for a moment, rushedfearlessly forward and drove its sharp-pointed horns into its body whileit in vain attempted to defend itself with its trunk. The two creatureswere now locked together in a way which made it seem impossible for themto separate, unless the horns of the rhinoceros were broken off. Neverdid I witness a more furious fight. The elephant attempted to throwitself down on the head of its antagonist, and thereby only drove thehorns deeper into its own body. So interested was I, that I forgot thepain I was suffering, while I could hear no other sounds than thoseproduced by the two huge combatants. While I was watching them, I felta hand on my shoulder, and saw Harry standing over me. 

"I am sorry you have met with this accident!" he exclaimed. "The sooneryou get away from this the better. There is a safer spot a littlehigher up the bank, Toko and I will carry you there. "

I willingly consenting, my friends did as they proposed, as from thenceI could watch the fight with greater security. They, having placed mein safety, hurried towards the combatants, hoping to kill both of thembefore they separated. 

The elephant, already wounded, appeared likely to succumb without ourfurther interference. There was indeed little chance of its attemptingto defend itself against them. Toko, making a sign to Harry to remainwhere he was, sprang forward until he got close up to the animals, andfiring he sent a bullet right through the elephant's heart. The hugecreature fell over, pressing the rhinoceros to the ground. Leaping backToko again loaded, and Harry advancing they fired together into the bodyof the survivor, which after giving a few tremendous struggles, sankdown dead. 

The battle over, Harry proposed carrying me at once to the camp, andthen returning to bring away the elephant's tusks, the lion's skin, andas much of the meat of the two first animals as was required for the useof the party. I was very thankful to accept his offer, as I wanted toget my ankle looked to, having an uncomfortable fear that it was broken, in which case my hunting would be put a stop to for many a week to come. He and Toko were not long in manufacturing a litter to carry me, bymeans of two long poles, on their shoulders. Having placed me on itthey set off for the camp. Fortunately we had not very far to go. Ihoped that in the mean time we should meet with neither elephants norlions. 

Only under rare circumstances are rhinoceroses to be dreaded, for theyare generally mild and well-disposed creatures, and usually take toflight when they come in sight of human beings. 

We had gone about half-way, when a lion, bursting out from a thicketclose by, stalked across the path some distance ahead. My bearersplaced me on the ground and handled their rifles. 

"We'll stand by and defend you, don't be alarmed, " cried Harry. 

"I'm not afraid of your running away, " I answered, "but don't fire atthe creature unless it approaches to attack us. If you only wound it, its rage may be excited, and I to a certainty shall become its victim. "

The lion regarded us for a few seconds when--we raising a loud shout--it, greatly to my satisfaction, bounded on and disappeared in the wood. Indeed a lion when alone will seldom, especially in the day-time, attackhuman beings who show a bold front, though it will follow like a cat, asdo most other savage brutes, if a man runs from it. 

My friends again taking me up, we proceeded, though I own that I peeredsomewhat anxiously into the wood where the lion had retreated, lest itshould change its mind and rush out upon us. 

My uncle returned soon after we reached the camp, and at once examinedmy ankle. Greatly to my relief he assured me that it was not broken, and that, if he bound it up in a water bandage, I should probably bewell in a day or two. As it was already late, the blacks were unwillingto go through the forest at night for the purpose of bringing in ourspoils, for fear of being carried off by lions. All night long we couldhear them muttering and roaring. Harry suggested that they weremourning for their late companion. Occasionally the death-cry of someunfortunate deer which they had pulled down reached our ears, whilevarious other sounds, some produced by insects or bullfrogs, or birds, disturbed the silence of the forest. I, however, managed, in spite ofthe noise and the pain I suffered, to go to sleep, and in the morning, greatly to my satisfaction, I found my ankle much better than Iexpected. 

As meat was wanted, several of the party proposed to set off at an earlyhour to bring in some from the animals we had killed; my uncle, MrWelbourn, and Harry going also. As I did not like to be left behind, Ibegged to be allowed to mount a horse and to ride with them. I shouldhave been wiser to have remained quietly at the camp, but I wanted torevisit the scene of our encounter the previous day. Jan followedbehind with several of the blacks, who were to be loaded with ourspoils. As we neared the spot, I heard my friends exclaiming in varioustones--

"Where is it? What has become of the creature!"--and, pushing forward, I caught sight of the elephant and the dead lion at a distance, butnowhere was the rhinoceros to be seen. It was very evident that itcould not have been killed as we had supposed, and that, having onlybeen stunned, it, at length recovering itself, had made off. 

Toko cried out that he had discovered its spoor, and I saw him hurryingforward evidently hoping to find the creature. The other blacksmeanwhile set to work to cut out the tusks, and select a few slices offsuch parts of the body as were most to their taste, including the feet, the value of which we knew from experience. 

While they were thus occupied, my three white friends were busy inflaying the lion. I kept my eye on Toko, expecting that, should hediscover the rhinoceros, he would summon some of the party to hisassistance. I saw him look suspiciously into a thicket, then he turnedto fly. The next moment a huge beast rushed out, which I had no doubtwas the rhinoceros we fancied that we had killed on the previous day. Toko made for a tree behind which he could shelter himself. I called tomy friends to draw their attention to the danger in which he was placed, but to my dismay before he could reach the tree the rhinoceros was uponhim. There was no time to leap either to the one side or the other, butas the animal's sharp horn was about to transfix him, he made a springas if to avoid it, but he was not in time, and the animal, throwing upits head, sent him and his rifle floating into the air to the height ofseveral feet. The rhinoceros then charged on towards the men cutting upthe elephant, when my uncle and his companions, having seized theirrifles, began blazing away at it. Fortunately one of their shots tookeffect, and before it had reached the blacks, down it sank to theground. While Harry hastened on to where Toko lay, my uncle and MrWelbourn, quickly reloading, fired into its head and finished itsexistence. 

I had ridden up to the Makololo, expecting to find every bone in hisbody broken. As I approached, to my satisfaction I saw him get up; andthough he limped somewhat, after shaking himself and picking up hisrifle, he declared that he was not much the worse for the fearful tosshe had received, and was as ready as ever for work. 

He soon rejoined the rest of the men, and assisted in packing the oxenwith the tusks and meat. Some of the flesh of the rhinoceros was alsocut off, and with the lion-skin packed up. Rhinoceros meat, thoughtough, is of good flavour. The portions we carried off were from theupper part of the shoulder and from the ribs, where we found the fat andlean regularly striped to the depth of two inches. Some of the skin wasalso taken for the purpose of making some fresh ox-whips. We of coursecarried away the horns, which are about half the value of ivory. Altogether, the adventure which at one time appeared likely to prove sodisastrous, afforded us no small amount of booty. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

The constant mutterings and roarings which saluted our ears during thenight, made us suspect that we should not obtain much game in theneighbourhood, besides which we should run a great risk of beingattacked while out shooting. We therefore struck camp, and proceeded onto the northward. The country in many places was rocky, and thoughthere were no mountains of any great height there were savage defilesthrough which we had to pass, the sides of the cliffs being covered withbrushwood and creepers, and in some spots with tall trees. We were notafraid of being attacked by natives, but notwithstanding we always sentout scouts on our flanks and ahead. 

We had gone on some distance when Toko, who was leading, came hurryingback. 

"I have seen a strange sight, which I would rather not have seen, " heexclaimed. 

"What is it?" asked my uncle. 

"Lions, a whole army of them. They seem determined to stop our way, " heanswered. 

"If there were a hundred of them they should not do that, " replied myuncle. "We'll have a look at the gentlemen. We shall soon drive themoff if I mistake not. "

As it would have been imprudent to carry the cattle and horses into theneighbourhood, a halt was called, and the blacks were left in charge ofthe animals, while we, with Hans Scarff, prepared to ride forward. 

"Stay!" said Harry. "I think we have got something to send them to therightabout, if our shouts fail to drive them away. " And going to thewaggon he produced half-a-dozen rockets. 

"One of those will do, " observed his father, "for we may want the restfor another emergency. However, you can carry a couple in case oneshould fail. "

Led by Toko, we proceeded along the defile, when, on reaching some highground, we saw, collected together below us among the rocks, an immensenumber of lions. There must have been several families, fathers andmothers with their young ones. What could have brought them together tothat spot, it was difficult to conjecture. Toko declared that they knewwe were about to pass that way, and had assembled for the purpose ofattacking us. Of course such an idea was ridiculous; however, therethey were, and had we passed close to them, they might have committedserious havoc among our cattle, although we should no doubt have shotdown many of them. They must have seen us, from the way they lashedtheir tails and muttered; while, from the loud roars which three or fourof the elders gave forth, it was pretty clear that they meant mischief. 

We, however, rode forward determined to drive them away. Harry and I, in the meantime, got the rockets ready to fire in case our shouts shouldfail to produce the desired effect. As we got nearer there was ageneral movement among them. As we shouted they roared in return, apparently not being alarmed by the sound of our voices. 

"We must not remain unarmed, so let only three fire at a time, while theothers reload, " said my uncle. "Now fire!"

As the smoke cleared away, it seemed doubtful whether any of the shotshad taken effect, as the lions did not move from the spot they occupied. 

"I suspect they are waiting for the appearance of a herd of `gemsboks, 'and that they will not give up the chance of catching their prey, "observed my uncle. 

"We must disappoint them then, " said Mr Welbourn. "Harry, get one ofyour rockets ready, and pitch it into the middle of them directly afterwe fire our next volley. "

We had got the tube fixed and placed at the proper elevation. We had towait until those next to fire had discharged their rifles, when two ofthe lions were evidently badly wounded, but even this did not make themtake to flight. Harry then applied the match to the rocket whichpitched in the midst of the congregated lions. The effect waselectrical. Seized with a panic, away they all scampered over the rocksat a greater rate than I had ever before seen lions run. None stoppedfor the others. One with his spine injured lay on the ground. Twoothers dropped before they had got far, while the remainder were soonout of sight. 

"The brutes will not come back to this locality, " exclaimed my uncle. "We must now put the other ones out of their pain. "

A rifle ball sent through the head of each quickly did this. Rapidlyskinning them, we left the carcases to be devoured by the birds of prey, which almost before we got out of sight appeared in the air; foralthough hyaenas and jackals are said to keep aloof even from a deadlion, the vulture tribes possess no such awe for the monarch of thewilds. 

Returning to where we had left our cattle, we at once moved forward, anxious to get out from among the rocky defiles as soon as possible. Scarcely had we emerged from them, than we saw in the distance anenormous herd of deer, which Mr Welbourn at once pronounced to be"pallah. " As they approached we drew on one side before we werediscovered. First came a stag, a magnificent animal of a bay colour, fading into a whitey-brown, with elegantly, somewhat harp-shaped horns, marked with rings, and a black semi-circular mark on the croup by whichit could be at once distinguished. Its feet were of a jetty hue. Though it might have seen us, it continued walking on in a sedatemanner, the rest following their leader with a confidence which showedthat they must put implicit trust in him. 

My uncle and Hans, at once dismounting, crept towards the herd; and, waiting until the greater number had passed, fired together, when threeof the animals fell dead. The remainder, instead of turning to fly, dashed forward to fill up the gaps in their line, the whole moving on ata much greater speed than before. Two others, however, were killedbefore the herd made their escape through the pass towards which theywere directing their course. 

Had we not driven away the lions, probably many more would have beenkilled by them. We at once carried off the five which were destined forprovisioning our party, and loaded our waggons with their skins andhorns. 

We were now approaching a part of the country where we hoped to find agreater number of elephants than we had yet met with, our chief objectbeing to obtain their tusks; although nothing came amiss, rhinoceroshorns, skins, or ostrich feathers; the latter especially, from theirsmall bulk, were really of more value than elephant tusks. 

We were now crossing a wide plain with rocks. Here and there wereant-hills, by the side of each of which grew a dark-leaved tree calledthe "Mollopie. " Near our camp was a rain-pool, at which our animalswere watered. Jan here captured a large frog in which, when he cut itopen, for the purpose of preparing it for cooking, he found a wholemouse, two or three ants, and several other insects. 

In the morning our people informed us that they had heard the roaring ofa lion during the night at a neighbouring pool; and as there was a greatlikelihood of his paying a visit to the camp, to make a feast off ouroxen, we determined to dispatch him before going out to hunt. 

As we approached the pool, the noise was again heard. 

"He must be in a thicket close by, " exclaimed Harry. 

But every thicket round was well beaten, and no lion appeared. At lastI heard Harry laughing heartily, and saw him pointing to the oppositeside of the pool, where I caught sight of a big frog poking his headabove the reeds. There could be no doubt of it. Though he could notswell himself to the size of a lion, Mr Bullfrog had managed to imitatevery closely his voice, so we returned to camp feeling somewhat ashamedof ourselves, Harry every now and then giving way to a burst oflaughter. 

In the open country, where little shelter is to be found, lions are notoften to be met with, and as they can be seen long before they approach, no danger is to be apprehended from them. One of the men who hadremained behind followed, bringing one of the bullfrogs which he hadcaptured in the pool. The body, which we measured, was nine inches inlength, by five and a half wide; and the hind legs, from toe to toe, eighteen inches. On being cut open a young bird which it had latelyswallowed was found in its inside. 

I, having completely recovered the use of my foot, arranged with Harrythat we should make another expedition together in search of game. Weagreed that Jan should accompany us, and just as we were starting Hansoffered to go. We would rather have dispensed with his company, as hewas not a favourite with either of us. Mr Welbourn, my uncle, Toko, and two or three Makololoes were to set off in another direction. Theycharged us not to go beyond a _vlei_ or pool, which we had heard of fromthe Makololoes, about twelve miles to the northward. 

This, however, gave us a very wide scope, and we fully expected to comeback with plenty of game of some sort. 

We went on for some distance without meeting with any live creatures, though we crossed the spoor of numerous elands, buffaloes, giraffes, andoccasionally of elephants. Neither Hans nor Jan knew more of thecountry than we did, but Harry said that he had brought a compass, sothat we should have no difficulty in finding our way, even should cloudsgather in the sky or night overtake us. When, however, he came tosearch for the instrument in his pocket, it was not to be found. 

"Never mind, " he observed, "as the sky is bright, the sun will guide usby day, and the stars by night, even if we are kept out, and there is noreason why we should be if we turn back again in good time. "

On we went, therefore, intending on arriving at the _vlei_, to waituntil some animals should come to drink, which they were sure to do, unless there were other water-holes in the neighbourhood. 

We had brought very little food, expecting to be able to supplyourselves with meat and fruits. From the appearance of the country wehad no doubt that we should meet with melons, even though we might notcome across water before we arrived at the _vlei_. 

We had, according to our calculation, gone about two-thirds of thedistance without having shot a single animal, when the weather began tochange. Clouds gathered in the sky, and a thick mist swept across theface of the country, such as occasionally, though not often, occurs inthat latitude. We agreed, however, that by turning directly back weshould have to traverse the same region we had just passed over, withoutfinding game, and we should thus be disappointed in obtaining food. This was not to be thought of. I would be far better to go on to wherewe should have every chance of finding it. Hans concurred with us, and, as Jan was always ready to go forward, on we went. 

In consequence of being shaded from the rays of the sun, we were betterable to travel than usual during the hot hours of the day. We hadreached the part of the country where we had expected to find the_vlei_; but, even though Jan mounted to the topmost boughs of thetallest tree we could find, when he came down he declared that he couldnot discover water. 

We therefore again pushed on, until we reached a rocky hill, to thesummit of which we climbed. Not a pool could we see either to thenorth, east, south, or west. 

We were now getting both hungry and thirsty, for we had exhausted thewater we had brought in our bottles. We were convinced, however, thatwe must be near the _vlei_, and that some rise in the ground probablyhid it from view. While looking about we caught sight of some animalsof the deer tribe, and Harry and I arranged to go down to try and killone of them, while Hans and Jan were to continue the search for water, and, should they find it, they were to meet us at the foot of the hill, from which they started. 

Keeping ourselves among the rocks and shrubs and tall grass, we made ourway in the direction we had seen the deer. As we got nearer Harrypronounced them to be _ourebis_. We were afraid that we should have nochance of getting within shot, for we saw them gliding rapidly along, often bounding several feet into the air, then galloping on again, andonce more bounding on. 

"I'll try a dodge I once saw practised, " whispered Harry. "Do you liedown with your rifle ready to fire behind yonder bush, and I'll goforward and show myself. They have a good deal of curiosity in theirnature, and I'll try to excite it. "

He then placed his rifle and coat and hat on the ground, and creeping alittle forward, to one side of where I lay, he suddenly rose with hisfeet in the air, supporting himself on his hands. How he could manageto maintain that position so long surprised me. I should have had theblood rush into my head and dropped down in a minute had I made theattempt. 

All the time I was watching the ourebis; which, no longer leaping about, remained quiet for some seconds, and then with slow and stately stepsadvanced towards the curious object. I had time to examine themminutely. Their colour was a pale tawny above, and white below. Thehorns straight and pointed, and, as far as I could judge, five inches inlength. The animal itself is of no great height, standing not more thantwo feet from the ground, though when it lifts up its head it looks muchtaller. The female of the pair which approached was hornless. On theycame, closer and closer. I was afraid that Harry would drop down andfrighten them away before they had got near enough to enable me to takea sure aim. 

I was in as good a position as I could desire, for, though the busheffectually concealed me, I could see them clearly. I dared not, however, move my rifle in the least degree, for fear it should touch theleaves and make the animals suspicious. "Do not fire until they beginto move away, I want to get them up close to me, " said Harry, in awhisper. 

The animals still, in spite of the danger, came on, until they were nottwenty yards off. At length, it seemed to me, by the way they movedtheir ears, that they were on the point of starting. 

I fired, the buck dropped on his fore-legs, and at the same instantHarry threw himself on his feet, lifted his rifle and fired at the doebefore she had got ten paces off. Down she also came utterly helpless, and was quickly put out of her suffering by Harry. The buckinstinctively attempted to defend himself with his horns, but seizingone of them, I deprived him of existence. 

We had good reason to be satisfied with the result of Harry'sexperiment. He told me that not only the ourebis but several otherdeer, if attracted in the same way by their suspicions or curiositybeing aroused, can be thus shot. 

We lost no time in cutting open our deer, so as to lighten the loads, and the better to preserve the meat. Each was as much as a man couldcarry on his shoulders. We were unwilling, however, to leave any partbehind. Believing that we could carry them better whole than cut up, westaggered along with our burdens, fortunately not having far to go. Onarriving at the spot agreed on, we found that our companions had notreturned. We therefore set to work to collect fuel for a fire, and tocut up one of the animals. So parched had we become, that we couldscarcely refrain from drinking their blood. I had always found, however, that blood rather increased than diminished thirst. We wereboth by this time well versed in wood-craft, and quickly divided theanimal in the most scientific fashion. While we were employed in thismanner, we frequently looked round to ascertain if the two men wereapproaching, but they were not to be seen. 

Having finished our task, while I was making up the fire, Harry climbedto the top of the rock, that he might obtain a wider look-out. 

"I can see them nowhere, " he said, when he came down, "but I caughtsight of an animal which, if I mistake not, is a big lion following ourspoor, or probably it is attracted by the scent of the deer. As he iscoming this way, we must be prepared for him: though he might notcondescend to eat a dead deer, he may take it into his head to carry offone of us living subjects. He is not likely to give us any undue noticeof his approach. "

Harry agreed therefore to keep watch while I continued the operations onwhich I was engaged. I soon got some forked sticks, which I ran intothe ground to hold the spits, and on these I placed the venison toroast, but hungry as I was I felt that without water I could scarcelyget down the food I was cooking. Evening was approaching. 

"I say, Fred, if those fellows don't come soon, we must set off byourselves, and look out for water. Perhaps some may be found among therocks, or if not, we must cut some wooden spades and dig for it. Thosedeer wouldn't be inhabiting these parts if water wasn't in theneighbourhood. "

"It will be too late to commence any search tonight, " I observed. "Itis already nearly dark, and the chances are that the lion you saw justnow will pounce down upon us, if we go far from the fire. I wouldrather endure thirst than run that risk. "

"Still we must have water, " exclaimed Harry; "but you stay here and lookafter the venison, and I'll just wander to a short distance. I do notsuppose the brute will find me; and perhaps, you know, it was not a lionafter all I saw: it might have been a buffalo or a brindled gnu. "

"You said positively it was a lion, " I remarked; "for your own sake, aswell as mine, I beg that you will not wander from the camp. "

Still Harry, pointing to his mouth, insisted on going. Just as he wasabout to set off, a loud roar, not twenty paces off, reached our ears. 

"What do you say now?" I asked. "You don't mean to assert that thatwas the cry either of an ostrich or a bullfrog. "

"I wish that it were the latter, " he answered; "for then there would bea chance of finding water. However, I'll stay in camp and try to enduremy thirst until those fellows come back--and they're pretty sure to findwater. "

I did not like to say that I was not quite certain on that subject. Ihad hopes, however, that even should they have failed to find it, weshould not perish, as I trusted before long we might have a shower ofrain, although none had as yet fallen from the cloudy sky. Some venisonwhich I had put close to the fire was by this time cooked, but it waswith the greatest difficulty that we could get down even a fewmouthfuls. 

"I cannot eat another morsel, " cried Harry, putting down his knife. "Ifthose fellows don't arrive soon, dark as it is, I must set off by myselfto try and find water; depend upon it, there is some not far off, orthat lion would not come here, " and he threw himself, utterly overcome, on the ground. 

I tried to cheer him up, and made another attempt to eat some venison, but had to give it up after nibbling at a piece; yet I felt that I couldhave swallowed a hearty meal, if I could have obtained a draught ofwater, however tepid and full of insects it might have been. 

We were sitting a short distance from the fire with our rifles in ourhands, prepared for the reception of the lion, should he venture toinvade our camp, when Harry exclaimed, "Hark! I hear footsteps: theymust be those of Hans and your black fellow. "

We listened; and I hoped that Harry was right. 

"Let us shout!" I exclaimed. 

We both together raised our voices. Our hail was answered from adistance. The night air had brought the sound of footsteps much furtherthan I should have supposed possible. It was some time before, by thelight of the fire, we saw the rough, uncouth figure of Hans, followed byJan. 

"Have you brought water?" was the first question Harry asked. 

"Yah! we have brought water, and have seen plenty of elephants--finecountry for shooting, and we will go there to-morrow. "

"Never mind the elephants and shooting now; hand me the water, " criedHarry, eagerly. 

Hans gave Harry his skin bottle, and Jan hurried up with his to me. Iswallowed the liquid eagerly, hot and nauseous as it was, full, Isuspect, of living creatures; but it tasted like nectar, and I halfemptied the bottle at a draught. 

"Now I am ready for the venison!" cried Harry. 

"So am I, indeed, " said Hans; "for we haven't had anything to eat oncewe left you, and are well-nigh dying of starvation. "

"As we were of thirst, " I remarked, handing Hans and Jan a large pieceof venison each. They devoured it eagerly, and Harry and I then turnedto and were able to eat a good meal. 

"I should like to get some sleep, " said Hans; "we will tell youto-morrow of our adventures. "

"We are in no hurry to hear them, " said Harry; "but I tell you, one ofus must keep a watch, or we may have an unpleasant visit from a lion, who is prowling about in the neighbourhood. "

"The cowardly brute won't come near us, " said Hans, drowsily. "Thechances are it was a rock you saw in the dusk, or it might have been ajackal. "

"But we heard it roar, " said Harry. 

"Oh, then it was a bullfrog, " cried Hans, rolling himself up in hiscloak and lying down. 

"Bullfrog or lion, there it is again!" exclaimed Harry, jumping up andseizing his rifle. 

There was no doubt about the matter; though the voice of an ostrich at adistance may sound like that of a lion, the roar of the king of theforest is unmistakable when close at hand. Even Hans was convinced, andwas quickly on his feet. It was very certain that we should get no restthat night, unless we could dispose of the intruder. The lion-skin wasalso of value, and we could not allow him to escape with impunity. Weall advanced together, resolved forthwith to shoot the brute; that weshould see him directly we had no doubt. A short distance off, betweenour camp-fire and the spot whence the roar proceeded, was a pile of lowrocks, a spur from a neighbouring hill. We had just reached it, when wecaught sight of the lion who had emerged from behind a thicket a littleway ahead. He seemed at once to look upon us as his foes. Had it beenin the day-time, he would probably have slunk away; but night was hisseason for activity; and, lashing his tail and again roaring loudly, headvanced across the open space below the rocks. Now was the criticalmoment: should we fail to kill him, he might make a desperate spring andknock over one of us. It was settled, therefore, that Harry and Janshould fire first, and then Hans and I, should they fail to kill thebrute: we to try what we could do, they, of course, in the meantime, reloading. 

The grand principle in attacking wild beasts is never to allow the wholeof the party to remain unarmed for a moment. The lion did not appearquite to like the look of things. He advanced cautiously, showing hiswhole vast proportions, his huge shaggy mane, and the afterpart of hisbody looking thin and small, but even that was of the size of afull-grown donkey. Twice he stopped, and each time uttered a tremendousroar. 

"He smells us, if he cannot see us, " said Harry. 

Still the creature appeared doubtful whether he would spring towards thesuspected point. 

"Now, Harry, let's see what you can do, " I whispered. 

"I shall be glad if I can knock him over the first shot, " he answered. 

Harry and Jan's rifles went off at the same moment, and we could heartheir bullets strike, but neither brought the lion to the ground. Hisrage overcame his fears; and lashing his tail and again roaring, he wasabout to spring on us, when Hans and I, taking steady aim at him as herose from the ground, sent our leaden messengers of death through hisbody. He must have leapt up half-a-dozen feet, falling right over onhis head, where he lay struggling for a few seconds; but before we couldleap over the rocks and get near him, he was dead. We signified oursatisfaction at the victory by a loud shout. 

"We shall now sleep soundly, " said Hans, giving the animal a kick withhis foot. 

We repaired to our camp and made up the fire. Though Hans declared thatthere was no necessity for remaining awake, Harry and I agreed to keepwatch and watch until the morning, not feeling at all certain whetheranother lion, or perhaps a leopard, might pay us a visit; or a herd ofelephants, buffaloes, or rhinoceroses, might come our way and trample usto death, while enjoying our balmy slumbers. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

When people know that their lives may depend upon maintaining a blazingfire, they must be foolish indeed if they allow themselves to slumber attheir posts; but I confess that I had great difficulty, during my watch, in keeping my eyes open, after the exertions of the day and the hungerand thirst I had endured. I felt that my only chance was to get up andwalk about with my rifle in my hand. I did not, however, go far fromthe fire, as the smoke drove the mosquitoes and other insects away fromits immediate vicinity; and I knew also, that at any distance from theflames I was as likely to be seized by a savage animal as I should bedid no fire exist. 

I could hear every now and then the mutterings and occasional roars oflions, with the cries of hyaenas and jackals, and the calls of variousnight-birds. Altogether the concert had a somewhat depressing effect, accustomed though I was by this time to the noises proceeding from anAfrican forest. 

At last the time I had agreed to watch came to an end, and I roused upHarry, charging him to keep a bright look-out. 

"Do not let yourself drop off for a moment, old fellow, " I said; "aslong as any prowling animal sees you moving about around the fire he'llnot venture to make an attack; but should you slumber for a moment, itis impossible to say what he may do. "

"I do feel awfully drowsy, I own, " answered Harry, rubbing his eyes andyawning; "still I'll do my best. It is a shame that fellow Hans won'tstand watch as he ought to do. I only hope that another lion will comeroaring close up to the camp, for the sake of making him get on hislegs. He knows that neither you nor I would sleep on our posts, so herests in perfect security, throwing all the trouble on us. "

Harry and I talked on for a little time, I hoping that he would thus bethoroughly aroused; then I lay down on the spot he had occupied, prettyclose to the fire, with my rifle by my side ready for instant use. 

It appeared to me that I had not been asleep five minutes when I heardHarry exclaim--

"Fred, rouse Jan. Up with you, and get ready for battle. "

I seized my rifle and sprang to my feet, as wide awake as ever I was inmy life, and there I saw, not six paces off, a creature with glaringeyes; not a lion, however, but looking unusually large as it emergedfrom the darkness into the light of the fire. 

It crouched as if for a spring; at the same moment I heard Hans shriekout. For an instant I glanced round, and caught an indistinct sight ofanother big cat-like creature stealing towards the rear of the camp. 

"You and Jan must look out after that brute, and we'll attend to thisone, " I shouted. 

As I spoke, the leopard, for such it was, notwithstanding our cries, --Harry, I should have said, had begun to bawl away as loudly as I wasdoing, --made a furious spring towards him; but though he was shoutinglustily, he remained as cool as a cucumber, holding his rifle ready. 

We fired, and both our balls took effect, when the leopard literallyturned, with its feet uppermost, and fell right down into the centre ofthe fire, where it lay struggling convulsively, utterly unable to rise. Directly afterwards I heard the report of a pistol, and, while hastilyreloading, I saw that Hans had shot the other leopard through the head. 

As we did not wish to lose the skin of the one we had shot, Harry againfiring gave it its quietus; we then seizing it by its hind legs draggedit out of the fire, and Jan's knife soon finished the other. 

We thus gained two magnificent leopards' skins: the fire had butslightly injured the one we had killed. 

"There is some use in keeping watch at night, Hans, " observed Harry;"what would have become of us if I had not been awake? Those bruteswould have been in our midst before we were able to lift a hand in ourdefence. As it was, I caught sight of only one of them stealing towardsus, and had barely time to rouse up the rest of you, so that if Fredhadn't been very quick, the brute would have been down upon us. "

"All right, " answered Hans, "such a thing is not likely to happen asecond time in a night, so I suppose we may now go to sleep in quiet. "

"I don't suppose anything of the sort, " replied Harry; "there are no endof lions and leopards prowling about, and you would have heard them ifyou hadn't snored so loudly. It will be your turn to keep watch, and Iintend to rouse you up in half an hour. "

"Yah, yah, " answered Hans, placing his head on the ground, and going offto sleep again. 

As I thought would probably be the case, the scent of the dead leopardsattracted packs of hyaenas and jackals, who serenaded us with theirhorrible yells and howls for the remainder of the night, though theblazing fire we kept up prevented them from approaching. 

Notwithstanding Harry's threat, he did not wake up Hans, who wouldprobably again have composed himself for sleep, and we might have beenleft to the tender mercies of the hyaenas. 

In the morning we took the skins off the two leopards; and cleaned andpacked them up so as to be easily transported. As Hans claimed the skinof the leopard he had shot, he had to carry it, while Jan carried ours. We then started off for the _vlei_. It would be too late in themorning, we calculated, by the time we could reach it, to shoot anyanimals; and we should have to wait till the evening, when they would belikely to come down to drink at the pool. We should not, therefore, have hastened our footsteps, had we not been anxious to obtain a freshsupply of water; for the small stock Hans and Jan had brought wasexhausted, and we were now almost as thirsty as we had been on theprevious day. 

Hans walked on ahead without speaking; but as he was never verytalkative, we were not surprised at this. At last he turned round, andtold Jan that he must carry his leopard-skin. 

We thought this too much of a good thing. Jan appealed to us. 

"Certainly not, " answered Harry. "You claimed all the skin as yourproperty. You are bound to carry it, or leave it behind if you like, but Jan shall not be compelled to carry it. "

Hans turned round and walked on sullenly, but presently I saw him drophis burden, and then present his rifle at Harry. Fearing that Hans wasabout to murder my friend, I dashed forward and struck up the weapon, which the next instant went off, the bullet almost grazing Harry's hat. 

"We must overpower the man, " I said, making a sign to Jan, and we allthree threw ourselves upon him, and prevented him drawing his knife, when he would, I suspect, have run amuck among us, as the Malaysfrequently do when exasperated. 

How to treat the madman--for such he appeared to be--it was difficult tosay. He was immensely strong, and we had to exert ourselves to keep himdown. Jan proposed to kill him, and was drawing his knife for thepurpose when we interfered. 

"We shall have to do it, I fear, if we cannot bind his hands behindhim, " said Harry. 

"No, no; we must deprive him of his rifle and ammunition, and he willthus be compelled to follow us. "

"If he wanders away into the desert, his fate will be certain, " observedHarry. 

"He has brought it upon himself, " I remarked; "here, Jan, take myrifle-strap; slip it round his arms and draw it tight, --be quick aboutit. Now, Harry, get another strap round his legs. "

All this time Hans was struggling violently, without uttering a word. Having succeeded in doing as I proposed, we had him completely in ourpower. He grinned fearfully and foamed at the mouth; indeed, he almostseized poor Jan's bare arm in his teeth, and had not Harry given him asevere blow he would have succeeded. 

"Now let's try to get him on his feet, and we will then slacken thestrap sufficiently to enable him to walk, though not to allow him to runaway, " I said. 

Hans was very unwilling at first to move, but at length we got him towalk along, though he appeared like a man in a dream, --not knowing whathe was doing. Jan assured us that he could find the way to thewater-hole, and we therefore proceeded in the direction he pointed out. It was a question, however, whether we should remain to shoot there, or, having supplied our bottles, return with our unfortunate companion tothe camp. As he seemed strong enough to carry the leopard-skin, wereplaced it on his shoulders. Every now and then he would attempt torun; but the strap round his legs quickly brought him up. Our progresswas of course very slow, until at length the _vlei_ was reached. Wepassed on our way several trees of considerable size overturned byelephants; many of them being ten inches in diameter, it must haverequired great strength to uproot them. Others were broken short off, alittle distance from the ground, by the elephants. This showed us thatthe country was frequented by the animals, and that if we had patiencewe might be able to shoot a number. While lying in ambush, however, itwould be necessary to remain perfectly silent, as they would be alarmedby the slightest noise. 

At length the water-hole came in sight, and eagerly hurrying forward wequenched our thirst and refilled our bottles. Hans did not refuse todrink, and appeared somewhat better afterwards; but there was a roll inhis eye which made us unwilling to set him at liberty. Not to alarm theelephants, we retired to a distance and lighted a fire, where we cookedthe venison we had brought with us, which, although somewhat high, wasstill eatable; we then lay down to rest under the shade of awide-spreading tree, making Hans sit by us. 

Harry and I, wishing to obtain some sleep, told Jan to watch ourprisoner; and as he had had more rest than we had the previous night, wehoped he would keep awake. 

At length I opened my eyes, and, on looking round, what was my dismay tosee Jan fast asleep, and to find that Hans was not there. I arousedHarry. We had placed our prisoner's rifle and knife close to us, andthey were safe. He could not be far off; so calling Jan--who lookedvery much surprised at finding what had happened--we started off, hopingto discover the poor wretch. The feeling of anger with which we hadbefore regarded him was now changed into compassion. Should he have hadany evil intentions, could he have got his arms free, he might havebrained us as we slept. However, it seemed doubtful whether he had beenable to get more than his legs at liberty. The strap which secured hiselbows was nowhere to be seen. We traced his spoor, but thisdisappeared along an elephant track--for even Jan failed to discover themarks of his footsteps. The night was approaching, and we lost all hopeof discovering him. We therefore took up our position in the thicket wehad selected, close to the path the elephants pursued when going down tothe pool. We here fully expected to shoot two or three animals. Wethen proposed returning next morning to the camp, in order to bring twoor three of the men with us to make further search for Hans. 

We had not long taken up our position, when we caught sight of the hugeforms of several elephants coming through the forest, along the pathwhich we had discovered. We saw them sweeping their trunks backwardsand forwards over the ground, evidently suspecting something wrong. 

Thirst impelled them forward, however. They approached close to wherewe lay hidden, and I was just about to fire at the leader, who hadmagnificent tusks--Harry having agreed to take the next in order--when aloud shout rent the air, and a figure started up directly in front ofthe animal. It was Hans. His arms were still bound, but he keptleaping about, utterly fearless of the elephants before him. Ihesitated for a moment, when the thought struck me, --should I kill theelephant, I might save the life of the unhappy being who seemed to becourting his fate. I pulled the trigger. I could hear the ball strike, but what was my horror to see the animal rush forward, and the nextmoment trample Hans Scarff beneath his feet. A single shriek escapedthe miserable man, and then all was silent. Excited as I was, I did notnotice that Harry fired at the second elephant at the same moment. Hisbullet must have entered the animal's brain, for it sank a helpless masson the ground. The rest of the herd, alarmed by the fate of theirleaders, turned round, and with loud trumpeting rushed away into theforest. 

The first elephant, in the meantime, lifted up the body of his victim, whom he dashed violently to the ground; and then, staggering a fewpaces, came down with a crash and lay motionless. 

We hurried out of our ambush to render assistance to Hans; but he wasdead, every bone in his body being broken; even his features could notbe recognised. We could not blame ourselves for the occurrence, thoughgrieved at his sad fate. 

We now purposed returning to our last camp, where we had left our fireburning. Jan begged leave to cut off some pieces of the elephant'sflesh to cook for supper. This he did forthwith, in a more rapid waythan we could have accomplished the task. 

Covering up the body of Hans with some thick bushes, we left it where itlay, in order to prevent the hyaenas and jackals from getting at it, andreturned to our fire. 

We had not long been seated round it, talking over the events of theday, when Jan, starting up, declared that he saw the light of a fire inthe distance. 

Harry and I looked in the same direction. There was no doubt about thematter. 

"Who can they be?" exclaimed Harry. 

"Perhaps they are natives, " I answered. "If so, we must be careful howwe approach them. "

"I think it is more likely that they are our friends coming to searchfor us, " said Harry. "They will be surprised at our not appearingyesterday, and may have pushed forward a party who, if on horseback, would soon be up with us. "

I at length agreed that such was probably the case, and we accordinglysettled at once to go towards the fire. We should probably, even at adistance, be able to discover whether or not it was made by our friends. Jan was of our opinion. 

Having hastily finished our meal, we made our way in the direction weproposed. On getting near the fire, Jan offered to go forward and tobring word while we lay hid, so that we might retreat if necessarybefore we were discovered. 

When I was in the forests of Africa, I always remembered that while Iwas stalking an animal, a lion or leopard might be stalking me; and wetherefore, while we waited for the return of Jan, kept our eyes aboutus, and our ears open to detect the slightest sound. 

We had longer to wait than we expected. At length we heard a rustlingof leaves near us, and Jan's voice exclaiming--

"Dey de Capt'n's party, and Toko, and two, three, Makololoes; dey allgot horses!"

This was good news. As we went along he told me that he had notinformed them that we were near, as he wished to give us the pleasure ofannouncing ourselves. 

In a few minutes we were in the midst of our friends, and our appearanceafforded my uncle great relief. They had come across our camp, andfound the bodies of the lions, and had some misapprehensions that afterall we might have been carried off by others. 

He was, of course, much shocked at the fate of Hans, though, heobserved, that it was better he should have died thus, than havecommitted murder or some other mischief, as from his uncertain temper itwas very likely he would have done. 

The Makololoes, on hearing that we had killed two elephants, were eagerto go at once and obtain some of the flesh; but my uncle persuaded themto remain until the next morning, promising that they should then havean abundance of meat. 

Although expeditions on foot have their advantages, Harry and I came tothe conclusion, when we again found ourselves mounted, that we shouldprefer in future going out on horseback. My uncle told us that heexpected the waggons would camp where we then were, so that we mightload them with the tusks and skins we might obtain. 

Directly breakfast was over we rode to the scene of our encounter withthe two elephants, neither of which had been disturbed. The tusks weresoon removed, and the Makololoes cut away enough flesh for a whole army. A grave was then dug, and the body of poor Hans buried. This done, wefollowed the spoor of the elephants, intending to kill them whilefeeding in the day-time, and afterwards attack them as they came down todrink. 

We had not ridden far when Toko, who was ahead, came back with theintelligence that he had discovered four or five in an open glade, plucking off the branches and leaves of their favourite trees; and thatby keeping along through the wood we might come upon them without muchrisk of being discovered. Almost a minute afterwards we came in sightof the animals, when we at once dismounted to watch them and arrange ourplan of proceeding. While some Makololoes held our horses, my uncle, Harry, and I crept along not far from the edge of the forest, so as toget in front of the elephants we saw feeding, while Mr Welbourn, Toko, and one of his followers made a wider circuit, with the intention oftaking them on the other side should they move in that direction. Wehurried on, eager to get in front of the animals before they should moveaway. They now offered unusually good marks to our rifles. My fear wasthat their sharp eyes might detect us before we could get near enough tofire. My uncle advised each of us to select a tree up which we couldclimb, or whose trunk was of sufficient thickness to afford usprotection should the elephants, discovering us, make a charge. 

As the forest was tolerably thick, they could not move as rapidly as inthe open ground. We hoped, therefore, to have time to escape should ourbullets fail to kill them at the first shot. There were threemagnificent fellows feeding close together, and several others beyondthem. The latter had fallen to the share of Mr Welbourn and his party, and we agreed to devote our attention to the three nearest. Weproceeded with the greatest care, in Indian file. The slightest sound, even at a distance, caused by a stumble or the breaking of a twig, wouldattract the attention of our expected prey. 

We at length could see their trunks lifted above their heads to reachthe higher branches, the rest of their bodies being invisible, and ofcourse they could not see us. 

Having taken up our positions, one in front of each elephant, we creptforward, bending down as low as we could so as to escape detection aslong as possible. At the same time we looked out for trees to serve asplaces of refuge. Activity and presence of mind are necessary when aperson is hunting wild beasts, but especially when elephant shooting. 

I lost sight of my uncle, who was on my left, but I could just seeHarry, who was on the opposite side, his head appearing above the grassand shrubs. I had made up my mind not to fire until I heard the reportof my uncle's rifle. At last I could see the huge ears of an elephant, just in front of me, flapping up and down. 

I knew that the moment would soon arrive when I must fire or bediscovered by the elephant. I crept on a few paces further, then roseon my knees. At the moment that I heard the crack of my uncle's rifle, I lifted my own weapon and fired, aiming full at the creature's broadchest as high up as I could, so as to clear the head. Before thesmoke--which was kept from rising by the branches--had cleared away, aloud trumpeting was heard. The moment it began Harry fired, but I couldnot see the result. I sprang to my feet, so as to escape behind a treeI had marked, fully expecting to have the elephant I had shot chargefuriously at me; but it did not, and though I retreated some paces Icould still see its head. It seemed to be looking about to discover theenemy who had wounded it. No long time passed before it caught sight ofme, and then on it came. I could also hear a loud crashing among theboughs to the right, produced, I had no doubt, by the elephant at whichHarry had aimed. On reaching the tree I instantly began to reload, hoping to have time to give the elephant another shot as he passed me;for, though he had seen me for a moment, I knew that he would gostraight on without looking behind the tree. But, even before he hadgot up to the spot, down he fell on his knees, crushing several youngtrees. At the same moment I heard Harry cry out, and leaving my ownprize I dashed forward to his assistance. I was just in time to see theelephant, with his trunk uplifted, close to Harry, who had not had timeto reload or take shelter behind a tree. I fired, aiming behind the earof the elephant, when down it came, as mine had done, prostrate on theground. If my uncle had been equally successful, we should have made agrand haul. Without stopping to finish off our elephants, we hurried inthe direction we supposed him to be, reloading as we went. We uttered aloud shout to attract his attention. It was replied to by a tremendousroar; and, instead of an elephant, what was our surprise to see anenormous lion lashing its tail and looking up at the branches of a tree, among which we discovered my uncle; and he must have had a narrowescape, for he was only just beyond reach of the brute, who might, itseemed to us, by making a desperate spring, have struck him down. Wehad now to look out for ourselves, for should the lion discover us, unless we could kill him at once, he might tear us to pieces. Fortunately another tree of considerable girth, and in the position wedesired, was close at hand. We retreated behind it. As the lion turnedhis head and we thought might be looking for us, we both fired. To ourgreat delight we rolled him over where he stood. 

"Bravo! Well done!" cried my uncle, descending the tree. "We'll now goafter my elephant. "

Leading the way, without exchanging further words, he dashed out of theforest. 

CHAPTER NINE. 

On getting out from among the trees we caught sight of an elephant goingalong at full swing across the plain. There seemed but little chance ofour overtaking him, but my uncle urged us to persevere, for by the largeblotches and splashes of blood which we met with, it was evident that hewas wounded. It was pretty hot work, as we were loaded with ourammunition and our rifles, but we were encouraged to proceed by findingthat the elephant was slackening his pace. 

"We shall catch him before long!" exclaimed my uncle. "On, on. If thatlion hadn't interfered, I should have shot him at once; but the brute'slair must have been close to where I stood, and I ran a fearful chanceof being seized by him. "

We did not see what had become of the other elephants, and we concludedthat either Mr Welbourn had disposed of them, or that they had run intothe forest to conceal themselves. However, we soon saw that the attemptto overtake the elephant on foot was useless. We therefore made a shortcut back to where we had left our horses. Each of us mounting one, guided by the spoor, we immediately made chase. It was far moresatisfactory to be on horseback than on foot. Following the spoor, wequickly again came in sight of the elephant, which was moving slowly on. Seeing us, he lifted up his trunk and, trumpeting loudly, seemed aboutto charge. 

My uncle, notwithstanding, rode forward and fired. The ball struck, when immediately, turning the horse's head, he galloped off, taking theway towards the camp. He had not gone far, however, before the elephantstopped, and Harry and I coming up, both fired, when down it came to theground, and was dead before my uncle reached it. 

"A good day's sport, my lads, " he exclaimed in high glee. "We shallsoon have the waggons loaded if we go on in this way. Fred, you go tothe camp to bring up the oxen to load with the tusks and meat, whileHarry and I will look after the other elephants and the lion. "

I had taken a good survey of the country, so that I believed I couldfind my way, and without hesitation set off. I had gone but a shortdistance when a troop of giraffes hove in sight, and beautiful objectsthey were, with their heads elevated on their long necks. Influenced bythe propensity of a hunter I dashed forward in pursuit. Suddenly, myhorse swerved on one side, and I saw that he had narrowly escaped apitfall. Almost directly afterwards, two of the giraffes sank intoother pits, and on turning round I saw that the animals were pursued bya party of natives, who had them thus completely in their power. 

On examining the pit into which I had so nearly tumbled, I perceivedthat it was about twelve feet in depth, with a bank of earth about sevenfeet high left in the centre, broad at the bottom, and narrowing towardsthe top. The fore-legs of the giraffe had sunk into one side of thehole, the hinder legs into another, the body resting on the narrow bank, so that the creature in spite of all its struggles could not possiblyextricate itself. 

I left the natives to take possession, and rode on endeavouring to avoidthe pit-falls, of which I had little doubt there were many on my way. Ihad, of course, to go much slower than I should otherwise have done. Though two or three times I nearly got caught, I safely reached thecamp. Stopping merely to take some refreshment, I again set off withthe oxen, to bring in the produce of our chase. We found that it wasnecessary to be quick about it, lest the natives should find that we hadkilled the elephants and appropriate the tusks. They, however, hadhitherto been so busily employed in chasing the giraffes that they hadnot discovered the elephants. We took possession of the tusks, and asmuch of the meat as our party could consume. 

Mr Welbourn had been almost as successful, having killed two fineelephants and a couple of deer. Next day we continued our journeynorthward. In passing over the plain, while Harry and I were riding onahead, we caught sight of an animal occasionally rising out of theground and then disappearing. 

"That must be a beast caught in a trap or pit-full, " said Harry; "let'sgo and see what it is. "

On reaching the spot we found that he was right in his conjectures. Hetold me that the animal was a quagga, which somewhat resembles awell-shaped ass. In vain the quagga tried to get out by the mostdesperate efforts. Sometimes its fore feet almost touched the top ofthe bank, but again and again it fell back. 

"I should like to take possession of the animal, " said Harry, "itdoesn't appear to be at all injured, and if we could manage to break itin, it would make a capital riding horse. If you'll watch the pit, I'llgo and get some of the men to come with ropes. "

To this I agreed, and he soon returned with Toko and two other men, bringing not only ropes, but a large sack and a saddle. 

"What are you going to do with those things?" I asked. 

"You shall see, " he replied. "It was Toko's idea. "

The quagga looked very much astonished at seeing itself surrounded byhuman beings, and as before, it endeavoured to escape from the pit. 

As it did so, Toko, who had fastened the sack to a loop at the end of along stick, drew it over the quagga's head, so as to prevent its biting, which it would have done had it been able to see. 

A halter was fixed round its mouth, and ropes were passed under itsbody, by which it was drawn out. As soon as it found itself on firmground, it began to throw its legs out in all directions, but Toko heldit fast by the halter. At last, wearied by its exertions, it stoodperfectly still. The moment it did so, Toko made a sign to hisfollowers, who clapped a saddle on its back, and drew tight the girths. 

"Capital!" cried Harry. "I have got a first-rate steed at small cost, and I'll soon show you what it can do. "

Before I could dissuade him from making the attempt, he, with his usualimpetuosity, leapt on the quagga's back, and, seizing the bridle, toldToko to let go. 

What Harry might have expected occurred. Off started the quagga, fullgallop, towards the herd from which it had been separated by fallinginto the pit. I feared from the vicious nature of the animals, that, seeing some strange being on the back of their companion, they wouldkick it and its rider to death. In vain I shouted to Harry to stop hissteed and come back: that was more than he could do. So telling Toko tomount his horse, I set off in pursuit. 

The moment the herd of quaggas saw us coming, away they galloped at afurious rate. There were not many streams, but over the rocky beds ofwatercourses, through dense thickets, up hills, down valleys, on theywent. 

Our horses began to show signs of fatigue, and I was afraid Harry wouldbe carried away into the wilderness. To attempt to throw himself offwould have been madness, and yet while the quaggas were running, therewas little chance that their companion would stop. 

We had ridden so far that I knew our friends would be anxious about us, for they had not seen us disappear, and no one in the camp would knowwhat had become of us. 

To abandon Harry was not to be thought of, and we therefore pushedforward in the hopes of at length coming up with him and stopping hiswild steed. The difficulty was solved in an unexpected way. Suddenlyin front of the herd of quaggas appeared a large party of people armedwith spears and darts. Uttering loud shouts, the blacks began to sendtheir missiles among the herd. The quaggas were thrown into thegreatest confusion, some going on one side, some on the other, othersturning in the direction from which we had come. At length the shoutsand cries around it brought Harry's quagga to a standstill, and enabledus to get alongside. I advised him to dismount. 

"No, no!" he answered. "I have got my steed and intend to him, and ifyou ride near he'll go well enough. "

Harry was right. The brute, pretty well tired out, went with perfectquietness, and submitted to be tethered with a strong rope and hobblesround its legs, so that there was no chance of its breaking away. 

"I'll tame him!" cried Harry. "Tell them, Toko, no one must on anyaccount bring him food--I alone will give it him. "

By this time the natives, who had killed half-a-dozen quaggas, had comeclose to us. We considered that it would be prudent, if not an act ofpoliteness, to thank them for stopping the quagga; and Toko, who was ourspokesman, so explained matters, that the hunters expressed theirhappiness in seeing us, and invited us to their village. 

We should have excused ourselves, on the plea of having at once toreturn to camp; but, as the day was already drawing to a close, and evenToko declared that during the darkness he should be unable to find hisway back, we accepted the invitation, and set off with our new friends, who were in high spirits at the thoughts of the quagga flesh they wereabout to enjoy. 

Their huts were larger and cleaner than any we had yet seen; and wefound that, although the people were hunters, they were alsoagriculturists, and possessed pretty extensive plantations at the backof the village. 

The women were immediately set to work to prepare the feast; and in ashort time the whole population was banqueting. We, of course, soonknocked off, and begged permission to rest in one of the huts. We hadscarcely however gone to sleep, than we were aroused by a tremendoushubbub; and, rushing out, we found all the women on foot, engaged inseizing their children, whom they had hauled out of their beds, orrather up from the mats on which they lay, and were belabouring themunmercifully with rods. On enquiring the cause from Toko, he told usthat news had been brought that an immense herd of elephants wasapproaching the plantations. The object of beating the children was tofrighten away the animals. This was, for one cause, good news for us, as we hoped to obtain full cargoes for our waggons. We at once offeredto go out and shoot the elephants, if the natives would guide us to thetrees in which we could take up our posts for the purpose. 

We soon found plenty of volunteers, and, guided by them, we each reacheda tree in the neighbourhood of the plantations, near which they assuredus the elephants were sure to pass. We gladdened their hearts bytelling them that they should have the meat, provided we retained thetusks for our share. The noise, however, continued; the womenshrieking, and flourishing their rods, the children howling, dogsbarking, and the men shouting at the tops of their voices and wavingfire-brands. Our fear was that the elephants would be frightened, andturn back; but scarcely had we climbed up the trees, each of usaccompanied by several natives, than we caught sight, through the gloom, of the dusky forms of an immense herd of elephants emerging from thethicker part of the forest. We at once, taking aim at the leaders, fired, hoping to kill some and turn back the rest. Two fell, and theherd halted, apparently too much astonished to tell what had happened. 

This gave us time to reload, when again the animals came on, passing bythe fallen bodies of their companions. Taking steady aim we again allfired; and, beyond our most sanguine expectations, three more elephantssank to the ground, each shot through the head. Whether or not theshrieks in front distracted their attention and made them regardless ofthe sound of our shots, I cannot say; but the animals scarcely stoppedfor a moment, though some of them trumpeted notes of alarm, and advancedwith apparent caution. The rest stopped lazily, waving about their hugetrunks. 

I was very thankful that we were high enough up the trees to be out oftheir reach. Though several passed, us before we had reloaded, othersfollowed, and three more bit the dust. Neither did this stop the onwardcourse of the elephants; for, breaking down the fences which enclosedthe plantations, they swept across, seizing the fruit with their trunks, and transferring it to their mouths. 

Again and again we fired together. The cries of the inhabitants did notstop their advance, though it tended to turn them on one side, where, meeting with several huts, they trampled them down as if they had beenbuilt of cards. Had it not been for the exertions of the people, thewhole village would have been destroyed; which Toko assured us, hadfrequently in other instances been the case. 

As soon as the elephants had passed, we descended, and as they showed noinclination to turn back, we pursued them, firing as we could makecertain shots, thus killing I am afraid to say how many more, lest myaccount might not be credited. 

The remainder of the herd then swept on, though we would not give up thechase until we had expended nearly all the ammunition we had with us. At length we returned to the village, where we found the people takingthe loss of their crops very philosophically, as they considered thatthe abundance of elephant meat would make them ample amends. 

"I hope the poor people will not get a surfeit, " remarked Harry. "Isuspect in a few days they'll wish the carcases at Jericho, or at allevents, at a distance from their village. Our horses and the quaggawould have fared ill, had the elephants come across them. "

After a few hours' rest, we bade our friends goodbye, and mounted oursteeds, promising to return for the tusks, which we reminded them wereours. 

Harry wisely kept a sack over his animal's neck, and Toko and I rode oneither side to guide it. The creature went wonderfully well, and soonerthan we had expected we came upon the waggons. The news we brought washighly satisfactory, and without a moment's delay the oxens' heads wereturned in the direction of the village. 

The people received us as old friends, and to encourage them to help uswe promised them a reward for each of the tusks they brought in. Theyhad already begun to butcher the elephants which had fallen in theirplantations, and in every direction round the huts strips of flesh werehung up to dry, creating an odour far from pleasant. They lost no timein bringing in the tusks. Harry and I were highly complimented on ourperformance. The tusks being cleaned and stowed away, our waggons werenearly full: another day's successful hunting would enable us to turnour faces westward. We accordingly promised to reward our hosts if theywould bring us information as to the direction the herd had taken. Harry and I had been congratulating ourselves on the prospect of a quietnight's rest in our tent between the waggons; but we had not been longasleep when we were aroused by a tremendous clap of thunder which seemedto break directly over our heads, while almost immediately afterwards, there came a most fearful shrieking and shouting from the village closeto which we were encamped. Slipping on our coats, we hurried out. Aswe did so a curious sight met our gaze. The whole of the malepopulation were on foot, armed with bows, and arrows; and as thelightning darted from the black clouds we saw them shooting away at themas fast as they could place their arrows to the string. 

As may be supposed, we kept carefully behind the savages lest we mightbe struck by the arrows, which we had heard were poisoned. The thunderrattled and roared, the lightning flashed, and the men shrieked andhowled. I asked Toko what it all meant. 

"They're shooting at the storm-clouds to drive them away, " he answered. 

"Do you think it will produce that effect?" I asked. 

"Who knows?" he replied. "They fancy so, and are therefore right to tryand get rid of the storm, and drive away what they believe would do themharm. "

I told Toko that the powerful Being who rules the heavens would not beinfluenced by such folly, though he would be ready to hear the prayersof the smallest child. He seemed to take the matter far more lightlythan I should have expected. 

"They are poor ignorant savages, " he remarked, "who have not theadvantage of living with white men. "

The storm swept by, and the poor people were satisfied that theirshooting had driven it away. 

Next morning, inspanning at an early hour, we proceeded in the directionwe concluded the elephants had taken. 

While camping at noon, some of the natives who had gone on ahead asscouts, brought us the satisfactory intelligence that the herd werefeeding in a wood about eight miles off; and that as a stream ran by, they were certain to go down to drink in the evening; when, if we tookproper measures, we should be able to kill as many more as we wanted. We lost no time, therefore, in proceeding onward, and as the ground waspretty level we made good progress. 

We camped at a part of the stream where we could draw water; and where, from the rocky character of the bank, the elephants were not likely tocome down and drink. On one side it was a swamp, between which and ourcamp we could leave our horses at liberty to feed, one or two men onlybeing required to watch them. As soon as these arrangements were made, we set off to search for the spoor of the elephants, so that we mightplace ourselves in ambush on one side, as we had before done, to shootthem as they approached or returned from the water. 

As we made our onward way, we caught sight of numerous elephants feedingat their ease in various directions. If they were part of the herdwhich we had lately attacked, they had soon recovered from their alarm. We took up our posts in satisfactory positions, hoping that, before thenight was over, we should have bagged the full complement of tusks werequired. 

I do not suppose the detailed account of our various proceedings wouldprove interesting. Suffice it to say, we were not disappointed. Harry, I, and Toko shot one elephant apiece, and my uncle and Mr Welbourn eachshot three, they using explosive bullets, which never fail to kill theanimals they wound. 

At length, frightened by the destruction of their companions, theremainder of the herd retreated, and we, leaving the bodies until nextmorning, returned to our tent. 

As Harry and I were pretty well knocked up with our exertions of theprevious day, we remained encamped while natives were employed inbringing in the tusks. 

After breakfast we strolled out with our guns, hoping to get some wildfowl in the marsh, for we were somewhat tired of feeding on elephant'sflesh. 

We had killed several birds, and on our way back we stopped to look atthe horses and quagga, which were feeding in perfect harmony. Thelatter having a bandage round its eyes, and it being hobbled, Harry wentup to it, and spoke gently in its ear. 

"Take care!" I exclaimed, "he'll give you an ugly bite. "

As I spoke the quagga turned his head and very nearly caught him by thearm. 

It was a lesson to Harry not to pet his favourite in future, and Iadvised that he should muzzle it until its temper should becomesoftened. 

We were standing talking, when suddenly the horses began to prance andkick up their heels. 

"Hallo! what are those?" exclaimed Harry, turning round. 

We then saw, emerging from the marsh, where they had been wallowing, acouple of huge rhinoceroses, who seemed to look upon the horses and usas intruders they had a right to drive off their domains. 

It was not without some difficulty that we got out of their way. Clumsyas the animal looks, and short as are its legs, it can move withwonderful rapidity over the hard ground. 

As our guns were only loaded with small shot, it would have been uselessto fire at them. The horses could take pretty good care of themselves, though they exhibited their fear of the savage-looking creatures byscampering off in all directions. 

Meantime, having withdrawn our small shot, we were ramming down bulletsas fast as we could. Although the horses could escape, the poor quagga, with its legs hobbled and its eyes covered, had but a poor chance. Theleading rhinoceros had singled it out as the object of attack; and, before Harry and I could fire, rushing furiously forward, it pierced thepoor animal through with its formidable horns, pinning it to the earth. When too late to save the quagga, we both pulled our triggers, when theanimal, still dragging the body of its victim on, rushed forward severalpaces before it dropped. 

We, of course, reloaded, but before we could fire, the other rhinocerosmight be in the midst of the camp and commit all sorts of damage. Fortunately, at that moment, Toko, who had just arrived with a party ofmen carrying the tusks, his rifle being loaded with ball, with awell-directed shot prevented the catastrophe we feared by killing therhinoceros just before it reached the waggons. 

We had an evening of rejoicing, for by the addition of our rhinoceroshorns, our waggons were piled up to the very top; and my uncle expressedsome apprehension that the axles might break down with the weight of theunusual load before we arrived at the coast. 

We lost not a day in proceeding thither. On reaching Walfish Bay, wesafely embarked the valuable produce we had collected. 

So ended the first series of my adventures in Africa. I have, however, since made several other expeditions to various parts of that hithertolittle-known continent, of which I may some day give an account to theworld. 

THE END.