ne 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!

[Illustration: SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT.]

Where could Swartboy have gone? Where? At this moment the elephant gave
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 fears; for the
next moment the tree gave way with a crash, and fell to the ground,
bringing the Bushman down among its branches.

It happened that the tree, dragged down by the elephant's trunk, fell
towards the animal. Swartboy even touched the elephant's body in his
descent, and slipped down over his hind-quarters. The branches had
broken the fall, and the Bushman was still unhurt, but he felt that he
was now quite at the mercy of his antagonist. He saw no chance of escape
by flight. He was lost!

Just at that moment an idea entered his mind--a sort of despairing
instinct--and springing at one of the hind-legs of the quadruped, h