er
them, and set them all in motion."

"Agreed," said the Major; "this is to start them," and he fired off his
rifle in the air.

The noise that ensued was quite appalling; the shrieks and cries of the
elephants, and the treading down and rushing through the reeds, the
splashing and floundering in the mud, for a few seconds, was followed by
the bounding out of the whole herd on the opposite bank of the river,
tossing their trunks, raising up their ears, roaring wildly, and
starting through the bushes into the forest from which they had
descended. Two large males only were to be perceived among the whole
herd, the rest were all females and their young ones, who scrambled away
after the males, crowding together, but still occasionally looking
behind after their young ones, till they had all disappeared in the
forest, the cracking and crushing of the bushes in which were heard for
many minutes afterwards.

"That was a splendid scene," said Alexander.

"Yes, it was a living panorama, which one must come to Africa to
behold."

"I do not think that I shall ever become a true elephant-hunter," said
the Major. "I feel a sort of repugnance to destroy so sagacious an
animal, and a degree of remorse when one lies dead. At the same time,
if once accustomed to the fearful crashing and noise attending their
movements, I do not consider them very dangerous animals to pursue."

"Not if people are cool and collected. We have had several famous
elephant-hunters among the Dutch farmers. I remember that one of them,
after a return from a successful chase, made a bet that he would go up
to a wild elephant and pluck eight hairs out of his tail. He did so and
won his bet, for the elephant cannot see behind him, and is not very
quick in turning round. However, a short time afterwards he made the
same attempt, and being foolhardy from success, the animal was too quick
for him, and he was crushed to death."

Bremen now came up to them, to say that there was a party of people to
the eastward, and he thought that there was a waggon. On examination
with their telescopes, they found that such was the case; and our
travellers turned their horses' heads in the direction, to ascertain who
they might be, leaving the caravan to proceed by the banks of the river.
In about an hour, they came close to them, and Swinton immediately
recognised them as Griquas, or mixed European and Hottentot races. Of
course, they met in the most friendly ma