Page 163 - Adventures in Africa

by the elephants. This showed us that the country
was frequented by the animals, and that if we bad

patience we might be able to shoot a number* While
lying* in ambush, however, it would be necessary to
remain perfectly silent, as they would be alarmed by

the slightest noise.
At length the water-liole came in sight, and eagerly

hurrying forward we quenched our thirst and refilled
our bottles. Hans did not refuse to drink, and
appeared somewhat better afterwards; but there was

a roll in his eye which made us unwilling to set him
at liberty. Not to alarm the elephants, we retired to

a distance and lighted a iire, where we cooked the
venison we had brought with us* which, although
somewhat high, was still eatable ; we then lay down

to rest under the shade of a wide-spreading tree*
making Hans sit by us.

Harry and 1 , wishing to obtain some sleep, told Jan
to watch our prisoner; and as he had had more rest
than we had the previous night* we hoped he would

keep awake.
A t length I opened my eyes, and, on looking round,

what was my dismay to see Jan. fast asleep, and to
find that Hans was not there. I.aroused Harry, W e
had placed our prisoner's rifle and knife close to us,

and they were safe. lie could not be far off; so call­
ing Jan— who looked very much surprised at finding
what had happened— we started off, hoping to dis

cover the poor wretch. The feeling of anger with
which we had before regarded him was now changed
into compassion. Should he have had any evil inten­

tions, could he have got his arms free, he might have