all of the
leading elephant and the volleys of musketry from the Hottentots had so
frightened the herd, that they had begun to separate and break off two
or three together, or singly in every direction. The shrieks and
trumpetings, and the crashing of the boughs so near to them, were now
deafening; and the danger was equally great. The Major had but just
leveled his other rifle when the dense foliage close to him opened as if
by magic, and the head of a large female presented itself within four
yards of him.

Fortunately, the Major was a man of great nerve, and his rifle brought
her down at his feet, when so near to him that he was compelled to leap
away out of the reach of her trunk, for she was not yet dead. Another
smaller elephant followed so close, that it tumbled over the carcass of
the first, and was shot by Alexander as it was recovering its legs.

"Back, sirs, or you will be killed," cried Bremen, running to them;
"this way--the whole herd is coming right upon you." They ran for their
lives, following the Hottentot, who brought them to a high rock which
the elephants could not climb, and where they were safe.

They had hardly gained it when the mass came forward in a cloud of dust,
and with a noise almost inconceivable, scrambling and rolling to and fro
as they passed on in a close-wedged body. Many were wounded and
tottering, and as they were left behind, the Caffres, naked, with their
assaguays in their hands, leaping forward and hiding, as required,
running with the greatest activity close up to the rear of the animals,
either pierced them with their assaguays, or hamstrung them with their
sharp-cutting weapons, crying out in their own tongue to the elephants,
"Great captain! don't kill us--don't tread upon us, mighty
chief!"--supplicating, strangely enough, the mercy of those to whom they
were showing none. As it was almost impossible to fire without a chance
of hitting a Caffre, our travelers contented themselves with looking on,
till the whole herd had passed by, and had disappeared in the jungle
below.

"They have gone right in the direction of the wagons," said Swinton.

"Yes, sir," replied the Hottentot, Bremen; "but we must not interfere
with them any more; they are now so scattered in the jungle, that it
would be dangerous. We must let them go away as fast as they can."

They remained for a few minutes more, till every elephant and Caffre had
disappeared, and then went back cautiously to the sp