e by some dexterous manoeuvre.

The Bushman was now right in the middle of the open ground; the elephant
rushing straight towards him.

The former had no weapon to oppose to his gigantic pursuer. He had
thrown away his bow--his axe too--to run the more nimbly. But neither
would have been of any avail against such an antagonist. He carried
nothing but his sheep-skin kaross. That had encumbered him in his
flight; but he had held on to it for a purpose.

His purpose was soon displayed.

He stood until the extended trunk was within three feet of his face; and
then, flinging his kaross so that it should fall over the long cylinder,
he sprang nimbly to one side, and started to run back.

He would, no doubt, have succeeded in passing to the elephant's rear,
and thus have escaped; but as the kaross fell upon the great trunk it
was seized in the latter, and swept suddenly around. Unfortunately
Swartboy's legs had not yet cleared the circle--the kaross lapped around
them--and the Bushman was thrown sprawling upon the plain.

In a moment the active Swartboy recovered his feet, and was about to
make off in a new direction. But the elephant, having discovered the
deception of the kaross, had dropped it, and turned suddenly after him.
Swartboy had hardly made three steps, when the long ivory curve was
inserted between his legs from behind; and the next moment his body was
pitched high into the air.

Von Bloom and Hendrik, who had just then reached the edge of the glade,
saw him go up; but to their astonishment he did not come to the ground
again! Had he fallen back upon the elephant's tusks? and was he held
there by the trunk? No. They saw the animal's head. The Bushman was
not there, nor upon his back, nor anywhere to be seen. In fact, the
elephant seemed as much astonished as they at the sudden disappearance
of his victim! The huge beast was turning his eyes in every direction,
as if searching for the object of his fury!

Where could Swartboy have gone? Where? At this moment the elephant
uttered a loud roar, and was seen rushing to a tree, which he now caught
in his trunk, and shook violently. Von Bloom and Hendrik looked up
towards its top, expecting to see Swartboy there.

Sure enough he was there, perched among the leaves and branches where he
had been projected! Terror was depicted in his countenance, for he felt
that he was not safe in his position. But he had scarce time to give
utterance to his fea