Page 187 - Adventures in Africa

wish the carcases at Jericho, or at all events, at a

distance from their village. Our horses and the
quagga would have fared ill, had tlie elephants come
across them.’'

After a few hours’ rest, we bade our friends good-
bye, and mounted our steeds, promising to return for
the tusks, which we reminded them were ours,
Harry wisely kept a sack over his animal’s neck,
and Toko and I rode on either side to guide it. The

creature went wonderfully well, and sooner than we
had expected we came upon the waggons. The news
we brought was highly satisfactory, and without a

moment’s delay the oxens’ heads were turned in the
direction of the village.
The people received us as old friends, and to en­
courage them to help us we promised them a reward
for each of the tusks they brought in. They had

already begun to butcher the elephants which had
fallen in their plantations, and in every direction
round the huts strips of flesh were hung up to dry,

creating art odour far from pleasant. They lost no time
in bringing in the tusks. Harry and I were highly
complimented on our performance. The tusks being
cleaned and stowed away, our waggons w ere nearly

fu ll: another day’s successful hunting would enable
us to turn our faces westward. We accordingly
promised to reward our hosts if they would bring us

information as to the direction the herd had taken.
Harry and I had been congratulating ourselves on
the prospect of a quiet night's rest in our tent between
the waggons ; but we had not been long asleep when
we wFere aroused by a tremendous clap of thunder