able shortly to
resume our journey.

CHAPTER THREE.

In a few days I was able to stroll a short distance from the camp,
always taking my gun with me. Though I still walked with some
difficulty, I every hour found my strength returning. Had we possessed
a waggon we might have loaded it with skins, so abundant was the game;
but, although we prepared a few of the most valuable, we could not
venture to add much to the cargo of our poor ox. At last my uncle,
seeing that I was strong enough to undertake the fatigue of the journey,
announced his intention of setting off, and I determined that it should
not be my fault if I broke down again.

In order to try my strength, I accompanied him on a short shooting
excursion from the camp, where we left Jan to look after the ox and our
goods. I found that I got along far better than I had expected; the
satisfaction of once more finding myself able to move about greatly
raising my spirits. We had gone but a short distance when looking over
the bushes we saw some objects moving up and down which, as we crept
nearer, turned out to be a pair of elephant's ears.

"We must have that fellow," said my uncle; "we can carry his tusks, and
one of his feet will afford us a substantial meal." The elephant, we
fancied, did not see us; and keeping ourselves concealed by the
underwood, we cautiously advanced. Presently we found ourselves on the
borders of an open glade, a few low bushes only intervening between
ourselves and the elephant. He now saw us clearly enough, and not
liking our appearance, I suppose, lifted up his trunk and began
trumpeting loudly.

"If he comes on, don't attempt to run," whispered my uncle, "but face
him for a moment, and fire at his shoulder; then leap on one side or
behind a tree, or if you can do so, climb up it with your rifle. I will
look out for myself." As he spoke the elephant began to advance towards
us. I fired, as did my uncle, the moment afterwards; but, though we
both hit him, the huge beast, after approaching a few paces nearer,
instead of charging, turned away to the left, and went crashing through
the wood.

We having reloaded were about to follow him, when the heads of nearly a
dozen other elephants appeared from the direction where we had seen the
first; and, advancing rapidly through the shrubs which they trampled
under foot, with trunks and tail stuck out, and uttering loud
trumpetings, they came rushing like a torrent down upon u