deep in the forest, and I had remarked no
other way except the one by which we had come. Had we stopped and
attempted to fire, we might too likely have shot Stanley, who was
directly between us and the elephant. Had we missed, Stanley would
certainly have been trampled upon; and so probably should we, as by the
delay we should have impeded his progress, and prevented him from
escaping. Very unwillingly, therefore, we turned our horses' heads and
galloped on, hoping to keep ahead of him. His horse was, fortunately,
the fleetest and strongest animal of the three. It seemed also to know
its danger, and flew along over the ground at a rapid rate; but still
the cumbrous monster came as fast, trumpeting and shrieking with rage.
His huge feet almost touched the horse's hinder hoofs, so it seemed;
while his trunk, in the glance I had got of him, appeared to be about to
descend upon Stanley's head. So dangerous was the position in which he
was placed, that I scarcely dared hope he would escape. "On! on!" he
shouted. "On! on!" we shrieked in return, trying to urge forward our
steeds at a little faster rate. The dogs, aware of their danger,
scampered off, with tongues hanging out, watching for an opening in the
thicket through which they might bolt. We had passed over several
fallen trees and other impediments in the path; and I dreaded lest,
coming against such, our horses might stumble. Now a trunk appeared
before us. Our horses leaped boldly over it. I hoped that Stanley's
would follow, and that it might offer some impediment to the elephant.
Glancing for a moment anxiously round over my shoulder, I saw that the
monster had also got over it without stopping. Could we once gain the
open country, I knew that we should have a better prospect of escaping;
because by separating the elephant would hesitate which to pursue, and
while he followed one of us, the others would be able to fire at him.
Still we had a considerable distance to go, for I calculated that we had
penetrated a mile or more into the forest. It was indeed a gallop for
life, and the elephant seemed determined to wreak his fury on us. What
had offended him so much it was difficult to say--perhaps the sight of a
horse, strange probably to him.

I think I have mentioned that when a troop of elephants are passing
leisurely onwards, feeding as they go, their footfall is unheard; but
when angry, the case is very different. The monster seemed to make the
v