ular promenade, at
intervals stopping to give utterance to its shrieking note; but most of
the time moving on in sullen silence. Now and then it directed its
eyes, and once or twice its trunk, towards the branches of the prostrate
tree as if it had still some suspicion that he who sent that stinging
arrow was there concealed. Indeed, it appeared by its movements to be
keeping guard over that particular spot, lest its enemy should escape.
It had long since extracted the arrow, by placing its great foot upon
the shaft, and drawing it forth.

Fritz had stolen back to the edge of the thicket, but kept cowering so
close that the elephant could not see him.

The parties perched above were more than annoyed by their imprisonment
thus procrastinated, and began to think of how they might set themselves
free. They talked of making a rush to possess themselves of their guns;
but to Karl this appeared too perilous to be attempted. It was not
twenty yards from the tree to the spot where rested the dismounted
monolith; and the elephant, whose eye was in a state of continual
activity, could not fail to see them descending from the branches. The
massive creature, though it moved about with apparently a gentle griding
step, could go almost as fast as a galloping horse; and should it espy
them in time, there would be but slight chance of eluding its prehensile
trunk.

Moreover, the sight of them--even should they succeed in regaining the
tree--would rekindle its rage, and cause it to prolong its stay upon the
ground.

There was yet another consideration that influenced them to remain
patiently on their perch. They knew that they had provided themselves
with only a very limited quantity of ammunition. That article had
become scarce with them; and they had prudently determined to economise
it. Karl had only two bullets left, with just powder enough to make two
charges; while Caspar's horn and pouch were not better filled. They
might fire their whole stock of lead into the elephant, and still not
succeed in killing a creature that sometimes walks off triumphantly with
a score of bullets "under his belt." These shots might only have the
effect of incensing it still more, and causing it to stay upon the
ground to an indefinite period.

It was a true _rogue_--Ossaroo had long since pronounced it one--and an
"old tusker" at that. It was therefore a most dangerous creature; and
though they knew they would never be safe in that v