ing, it seized it again with its trunk, carried it to the edge of the
jungle, and hurled it into the bushes."

"Dreadful! I had no idea that there was such danger in an elephant-hunt;
yet I must say," continued Alexander, "that, although it may appear
foolishness, it only makes me more anxious to have one."

"Well, as we advance, you will have no want of opportunity; but it will
be better to get the Caffres to join us, which they will with great
delight."

"Why, they have no weapons, except their spears."

"None; but they will attack him with great success, as you will see;
they watch their opportunity as he passes, get behind, and drive their
spears into his body until the animal is exhausted from loss of blood,
and they are so quick that the elephant seldom is able to destroy one
of them. They consider the elephant of as high rank as one of their
kings, and it is very laughable to hear them, as they wound him, beg
pardon of him, and cry out, 'Great man, don't be angry; great captain,
don't kill us,'"

"But how is it that they can approach so terrible an animal without
destruction?"

"It is because they do approach quite close to him. An elephant sees but
badly, except straight before him, and he turns with difficulty. The
Caffres are within three feet of his tail or flank when they attack, and
they attack him in the elephant-paths, which are too narrow for the
animal to turn without difficulty; the great risk that they run is from
another elephant breaking out to the assistance of the one attacked."

"The animals do assist each other, then?"

"Yes; there was a remarkable instance of it in the affair of Lieutenant
Moodie. I mentioned that it was a large male elephant which killed the
soldier just after Mr. Moodie's escape. Shortly afterward a shot from
one of the hunters broke the fore-leg of this animal, and prevented him
from running, and there it stood to be fired at. The female elephant,
which was in the jungle, witnessing the distress of its mate, regardless
of her own danger, immediately rushed out to his assistance, chasing
away the hunters, and walked round and round her mate, constantly
returning to his side, and caressing him. When the male attempted to
walk, she had the sagacity to place her flank against the wounded side,
so as to support him, and help him along. At last the female received a
severe wound, and staggered into the bush, where she fell; and the male
was soon after laid prostrate by th