ch an
opportunity of having the assistance of the white men's guns; and the
next day was appointed for the sport. By the advice of the natives, the
caravan proceeded some miles down to the eastward, to the borders of a
very thick forest, where they stated that the elephants were to be
found.

They arrived at the spot in the afternoon, and every one was busy in
making preparations for the following day. The Hottentots, who had been
used to the sport, told long stories to those who had not, and, among
the rest, Big Adam spoke much of his prowess and dexterity. Uncommonly
large fires were lighted that night, for fear that the elephants should
break into the camp. All night their cries were to be heard in the
forest, and occasionally the breaking of the branches of the trees
proved that they were close to the caravan. Begum, who was particularly
alive to danger, crept to Major Henderson's bed, and would remain there
all night, although he several times tried to drive her away.
Notwithstanding continued alarms, the caravan was, however, unmolested.

CHAPTER XIII.

At daylight the following morning, there was a large concourse of
Caffres in the camp, all waiting till our travelers were ready for the
sport. Having made a hasty breakfast, they, by the advice of the
Caffres, did not mount their horses, but started on foot, as the Caffres
stated that the elephants were on the side of the hill. Ascending by an
elephant-path, in less than half an hour they arrived at the top of the
hill, when a grand and magnificent panorama was spread before them. From
the crown of the hill they looked down upon a valley studded with clumps
of trees, which divided the cleared ground, and the whole face of the
valley was covered with elephants. There could not have been less than
nine hundred at one time within the scope of their vision.

Every height, every green knoll, was dotted with groups of six or seven,
some of their vast bodies partly concealed by the trees upon which they
were browsing, others walking in the open plain, bearing in their trunks
a long branch of a tree, with which they evidently protected themselves
from the flies. The huge bodies of the animals, with the corresponding
magnitude of the large timber-trees which surrounded them, gave an idea
of nature on her grandest scale.

After a few minutes' survey, they turned to the party who were
collected behind them, and gave notice that they were to commence
immediately