Page 175 - Adventures in Africa

guided by the spoor, we immediately made chase. It
was far more satisfactory to be on horseback than on
foot. Following the spoor, we quickly again came in

sight of the elephant, which was moving slowly on.
Seeing us, he lifted up his trunk and, trumpeting

loudly, seemed about to charge.
My uncle, notwithstanding, rode forward and fired.
The ball struck, when immediately, turning the horse's

head, he galloped off, taking the way towards the
camp. He had not gone far, however, before the
elephant stopped, and Harry and I coming up, both

fired, when down it came to the ground, and was
dead before my uncle reached it.
“ A good day's sport, my lads," he exclaimed in

high glee. “ W e shall soon have the waggons loaded
if we go on in this way. Fred, you go to the camp

to bring up the oxen to load with the tusks and meat,
while Harry 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 could find my way, and without hesitation

set off. I had gone but a short distance when a troop
of giraffes hove in sight, and beautiful objects they
were, with their heads elevated on their long necks.

Influenced by the propensity of a hunter I dashed
forward in pursuit. Suddenly, my horse swerved on
one side, and I saw that he had narrowly escaped a

pitfall. Almost directly afterwards, two of the giraffes
sank into other pits, and on turning round I saw that

the animals were pursued by a party of natives, who
had them thus completely in their power.
On examining the pit into which I had so nearly