ootprints were seen, when I
should certainly be tracked and probably caught or assagied. Having
entered the bush without having been recognised, I made my way along an
elephant-path, where the tracks of the elephants were quite fresh. I
knew that in this bush there must be a herd of these animals, and if
they would only walk along the same path that I had travelled they would
rub out the print of my footprints, and I should be safe. I walked on
into the densest part of the bush; and then, finding a large tree, I
climbed into it; so that, if the elephants scented me and became savage
and hunted me, I should be safe in this tree.

I knew I might have to remain in the bush during two or three days, and
that I might remain all that time without food; but I had been
accustomed to this trial, and people who in civilised countries take
their three meals a day are not aware how long a man in health can last
without food, especially if he is in the open air and can obtain water.

From the tree into which I had climbed I could see the sea beyond the
bay, so that if a ship came off the harbour I could see it, but how to
reach it would be the difficulty.

I had been but a short time in the tree when I heard a noise as of
branches being shaken. At first I imagined that the elephants were
moving through the bush, and consequently shaking the trees; but I soon
saw in the topmost branches a number of small grey monkeys, which were
leaping from branch to branch, and peeping at me whenever they could
obtain a glance. They seemed to consider me an invader of their
property, and to be angry in consequence, as they came within a few
yards of me and screamed loudly. Now I did not fear the monkeys, as
they were small, and having an assagy, I could easily have defended
myself; but I knew that if any Zulus were in the bush they would at once
suspect that the monkeys were making this noise because some strange
creature was in the bush, and they would come to see what it was; and
so, though they might not be able to trace me by my footprints, yet they
would be attracted to my concealment in consequence of the noise made by
the monkeys. Breaking off some branches, I threw these at the creatures
when they came near me; but they did not seem frightened, and screamed
and jumped about more than before. Suddenly, however, their attention
seemed to be attracted by something else, as they left the trees around
me and became greatly excited as t