Page 170 - Adventures in Africa

to devote our attention to the three nearest W e pro*
ceedcd with the greatest care, in Indian file* The
slightest sound, even at a distance, caused by a

stumble or the breaking of a twig, would attract the
attention of our expected prey.
W e at length could see their trunks lifted above their

heads to reach the higher branches, the rest of their
bodies being invisible, and of course they could not

see us.
Having taken up our positions, one in front of each
elephant, we crept forward, bending down as low as

we could so as to escape detection as long as possible.
A t the same time we looked out for trees to serve as
places of refuge. Activity and presence of mind are

necessary when a person is hunting wild beasts, but
especially when elephant shooting,
I lost sight of my uncle, who was 011 my left, but I

could just see Harry, who was 011 the opposite side,
his head appearing above the grass and shrubs. I had

made up my mind not to fire until I heard the report
of my uncle's rifle. At last 1 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 be discovered by the elephant. I crept on

a few paces further, then rose on my knees. A t 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 broad chest as high up as I could> so as to
clear the head. Before the smoke— which was kept
from rising by the branches— had cleared away, a loud

trumpeting was heard. The moment it began Harry