Page 184 - Adventures in Africa

if the natives would guide us to the trees in which we
could take up our posts for the purpose.

W e soon found plenty of volunteers, and, guided
by them, we each reached a tree in the neighbour­
hood of the plantations, near which they assured us

the elephants were sure to pass. W e gladdened their
hearts by telling them that they should have the
meat* provided we retained the tusks for our share.

The noise, however, continued ; the women shrieking,
and flourishing their rods, the children howling, dogs

barking, and the men shouting at the tops of their
voices and waving fire-brands. Our fear was that
the elephants would be frightened, and turn back;

but scarcely had we climbed up the trees, each of us
accompanied by several natives, than we caught
sight, through the gloom, of the dusky forms of

an immense herd of elephants emerging from the
thicker part of the forest. W e at once, taking
aim at the leaders, fired, hoping to kill some and

turn back the rest. Two fell, and the herd halted,
apparently too much astonished to tell what had

happened.
This gave us time to reload, when again the animals
came on, passing by the fallen bodies of their com­

panions, Taking steady aim we again all fired; and,
beyond our most sanguine expectations, three more
elephants sank to the ground, each shot through the

head. Whether or not the shrieks in front distracted
their attention and made them regardless of the
sound of our shots, I cannot say; but the animals

scarcely stopped for a moment, though some of them
trum peted notes of alarm, and advanced with appa-