Page 54 - Adventures in Africa

covered by the natives, as we were now approaching

an inhabited part of the country. W e had still a
couple of hours of day-light, and as I did not feel
myself fatigued with my previous exertions, my uncle

agreed to allow me to accompany him, while Jan was
left to clean the tusks and to prepare straps for,, carry­
ing them on the back of the ox.

W e soon discovered the elephants' spoor, and
followed it for some distance, the splashes of blood

we found here and there showing that the wounded
animal had stopped to rest. It would be necessary,

as we approached them, to be cautious, as they would
be on the alert and ready to revenge themselves for
the injury they had received*

W e now every moment expected to come upon them.
W e stopped to listen; no sound could we hear to in­
dicate that they were near us, We, therefore, went

on until, reaching the top of a hillock, we caught
sight of some water glittering among the trees. A d ­

vancing a little further a small lakelet opened out
before us, in the shallow part of which, near the shore,
stood an elephant, sucking up the water with his

trunk and throwing it over his neck and shoulders.
My uncle remarked that he was sure it was the

animal w~e had wounded, but that he was still too far
off to give us a chance of killing him* W e were
making our way among the trees, hoping to get near

without being perceived— though that was no easy
matter as he kept his sharp eyes turning about in

every direction— when, from behind the grove which
had before concealed them, several more rushed out.
“ They see u s!" cried my uncle. “ W e must get