Page 168 - Adventures in Africa

me that he had not informed them that we were near,
as he wished to give us the pleasure of announcing
ourselves.

In a fewminutes we were in the midst of our friends,
and our appearance afforded my uncle great relief

Ih ey had come across our camp, and found the bodies
of the lions, and had some misapprehensions that after
all we might have been carried off by others.

He was, of course, much shocked at the fate of
Hans, though, he observed, that it was better he
should have died thus, than have committed murder

or some other mischief, as from his uncertain temper
it was very likely he would have done.
The Makololoes, on hearing that we had killed two

elephants, were eager to go at once and obtain some
of the flesh ; but my uncle persuaded them to remain

until the next morning, promising that they should
then have an abundance of meat.
Although expeditions on foot have their advantages*

Harry and I came to the conclusion, when we again
found ourselves mounted, that we should prefer in

future going out on horseback. IVIy uncle told us that
he expected the waggons would camp where we then
were, so that we might load them with the tusks and
skins we might obtain*

Directly breakfast was over we rode to the scene of
our encounter with the two elephants, neither of which

had been disturbed. The tusks were soon 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, we followed the spoor of the
elephants, intending to kill them while feeding in the