erged into view. By almost imperceptible degrees they slowly
advanced, one of them from time to time cautiously raising his head to
assure himself that they were still going in the right direction; and
this state of things continued for another half-hour, during which the
"stalk" appeared to be progressing most satisfactorily, and with every
prospect of success. For the hunters were now within a quarter of a
mile of the wood; and it was obvious to the onlookers that they were
already eagerly watching for an opportunity to get in a shot, while
still steadily creeping ever closer to the unsuspecting quarry.

But quite unexpectedly the whole aspect of affairs became changed; for
the elephants, which had for some time been silent, presently sent forth
a terrific sound of trumpeting; and in another moment a herd of eleven
elephants, three of which were enormous "tuskers," suddenly broke cover
and stampeded down-wind with their trunks in the air, their great ears
flapping viciously, and the animals giving utterance to shrill screams
and trumpetings of rage as they headed directly for the spot where the
three hunters crouched in the long grass. And a moment later they were
followed by a twelfth--a truly gigantic bull--which was evidently
engaged in furious combat with some other and smaller animal, which
could be seen persistently charging his huge antagonist, while the
latter, wheeling hither and thither with an agility that was truly
astonishing in so enormous a creature, seemed making strenuous efforts
to impale the enemy upon his tusks, or to crush him by kneeling upon
him.

Meanwhile, the remaining eleven elephants pursued their headlong flight
straight for the three sportsmen, who, with marvellous nerve, remained
hidden until but a short fifty yards intervened between them and the
panic-stricken brutes. Then the trio rose suddenly to their full
height, and raised their rifles to their shoulders. The next instant
two of the three tuskers were seen to stumble heavily and fall to the
ground, while the third pulled up short, and, with legs wide apart,
stood screaming with fear and pain. Then, his legs seeming to give way
under him, he, too, sank to the ground and rolled over on his side,
while the remaining eight, evidently further startled by the sudden and
inexplicable fall of their leaders, scattered right and left, and were
soon lost to view behind the many clumps of bush that were thickly
dotted here and there.