knows that we are bound down
the river, and the stream will guide him. If not, he has Spoor'em along
with him. We should probably meet him on his way if we were to go up
the river."

"But we don't want to go up at present," said Hendrik. "Our way is
down."

"Then we had better stay here till he comes."

While they were thus talking, there was heard a dull, heavy sound,
accompanied by a real or fancied vibration of the earth.

The trees in a neighbouring grove appeared to be shaking about,--some
being upset as if a violent hurricane was sweeping down among them.

The horses took the alarm; threw up their heads, snorted, and galloped
to and fro, as if uncertain which way to retreat.

Next moment, from among the moving trees, emerged a herd of elephants,
each or most of them uttering trumpet-like cries as they entered upon
the open plain.

The horses galloped off the ground; and the hunters, believing that
their lives depended on recovering them, started in pursuit.

Almost on the instant, this purpose had to be relinquished. One of the
elephants, in advance of its fellows, was charging upon them; and they
would have enough to do to secure their own retreat. The others went
after the horses, and all seemed to have gone mad with the exception of
three or four that remained by the pool.

The situation of the hunters was now one of imminent danger. A
well-directed volley might stop the charge of the elephant rushing
towards them, and put the others to flight. This seemed to be the idea
of all three; for each took aim at the same instant of time and fired in
the same direction. The volley was delivered in vain. The elephant,
with louder rear and longer strides, came thundering on, only infuriated
by their attempt to check its course.

There was no time to reload; and all three retreated, with a terrible
apprehension of being overtaken, and that one or two others of them
should fall a victim to the gigantic pursuer. They ran towards the
stream. To have gone in any other direction would have been to impale
themselves upon the trunks of the other elephants, now also coming
towards them, aroused to rage by the cry of their wounded companion.

They succeeded in reaching the bank, and thought of throwing themselves
into the water; when a shout from Arend counselled them to a different
course.

"Follow me," cried he, and the next instant he was seen upon the trunk
of a cotton-tree that had fallen across the