Page 186 - Adventures in Africa

rent caution. The rest stopped lazily, waving about
their huge trunks,

I was very thankful that we were high enough up
the trees to be out of their reach. Though several

passed us before we had reloaded, others followed,
and three more bit the dust. Neither did this stop
the onward course of the elephants ; for, breaking
down the fences which enclosed the plantations, they

swept across, seizing the fruit with their trunks, and
transferring' it to their mouths.

Again and again we fired together. The cries of
the inhabitants did not stop their advance, though it
tended to turn them on one side, where, meeting with

several huts, they trampled them down as if they had
been built of cards. Had it not been for the exertions

of the people, the whole village would have been
destroyed; which Toko assured us, had frequently in
other instances been the case.

A s soon as the elephants had passed, we descended,
and as they showed no inclination to turn back,

we pursued them, firing as we could make certain
shots, thus killing I am afraid to say how many more,
lest my account might not be credited.

The remainder of the herd then swept on, though
we would not give up the chase until we had expended
nearly all the ammunition we had with us. At length

we returned to the village, where we found the people
taking the loss of their crops very philosophically, as

they considered that the abundance of elephant meat
would make them ample amends,
u I hope the poor people will not get a surfeit/'

remarked Harry, * I suspect in a few days they'll