I'll tell you how it is," said Hendrik. "They have a fine taste for
music, and they intend keeping the elephant in that pit, like a bird in
its cage, for the purpose of hearing the fine notes it is giving out."

One of the blacks was armed with a gun, all but the lock, which last was
wanting! The attention of Groot Willem was particularly directed to
this weapon, its owner holding it out before him, and making signs that
he wished some powder and a bullet for the purpose of loading it.
Willem desired to be informed how the ammunition was to be used, but the
black, by a shake of his woolly head, candidly admitted that he did not
know.

"Ask him what he brought the gun here for," said Willem, speaking to
Congo.

In answer to the question, the man made another confession of ignorance.

A little excitement was now observed amongst the blacks, and another
party was seen approaching from the direction of the village. They
brought news that the head man of the kraal was coming in person, and
that he was to have the honour of killing the elephant. He had lately
purchased a new gun from some _smouse_ or trader, and he was about to
exhibit his skill in the use of it, before the eyes of his admiring
subjects.

On the arrival of the chief, the young hunters saw that the gun in his
possession was a common soldier's musket, very much out of order, and
one that a sportsman would hesitate about discharging.

"The man will never kill the great brute with that thing," said Hendrik.
"He will be far more likely to kill himself, or some of those around
him. If the elephant waits till it is despatched in that way, it stands
a good chance to die of starvation."

The chief seemed very vain of being the owner of a gun, and anxious to
show to his subjects the proper mode of despatching an elephant.
Standing about twenty-five paces from the pit, he took aim at the
animal's head and fired.

The report of the musket was followed by a roar more expressive of rage
than pain, and a small protuberance on the elephant's head showed that
the ball had done no more than to cause a slight abrasion of the skin.
The operation of reloading the musket was performed in about six minutes
and again the chief fired. This time, standing at the distance of
fifteen paces. The elephant again astonished the chief and his
followers, by continuing to live.

Another six or seven minutes were passed in loading the gun, which was
again fired as before. The