ile it remained we dared not descend, and for what we could tell,
we might be kept up our respective trees all night, and perhaps the
following day, or still longer.

CHAPTER FOUR.

My uncle and I felt far from happy up our trees. He had had nothing to
eat since he left camp in the morning, and I too was getting _very_
hungry. An hour or more went by, and yet the old "rogue" elephant
showed no inclination to take its departure. Fortunately it had not
discovered my uncle's rifle, which lay concealed in the grass close to
the foot of the tree.

He now shouted to me to try to shoot the brute. This was no easy matter
perched as I was high up; and as I was not likely to hit any vital part,
I feared that any shot would only contribute to increase its rage
without bringing it to the ground or driving it off. I had but five
more bullets in my pouch, but I determined to do my best and not throw a
shot away. I waited until the animal presented its side to me, when I
fired, and the bullet struck it on the neck; but, though the blood
flowed, it seemed to take no notice of the wound. The next I planted
just below the shoulder. The elephant uttered several loud trumpetings
and rushing again at the tree, seized the stem with its trunk, and
endeavoured to pull it down. It shook violently, compelling my uncle to
hold on with arms and legs.

I quickly reloaded and fired another shot directly behind the creature's
ear. I saw the blood spouting forth and flowing down until it formed a
pool dyeing the surrounding grass. Gradually the elephant's trunk
unwound and hung down from its vast head.

"You've done for it," shouted my uncle; "send another shot into its neck
and we shall be free."

I was reloading while he spoke, and before the elephant altered its
favourable position I again fired.

Less than a minute elapsed, then down it sank on its knees. It made
several efforts to rise but without success--its strength was fast
failing. I had one more bullet remaining, but I wished to save it for
any emergency which might occur. We had not long to wait before the
elephant fell over on its side and lay an inanimate mass.

My uncle quickly descended the tree and I followed his example. His
first act was to pick up and examine his gun. It having escaped injury
he at once reloaded, and then, shaking hands, we surveyed our fallen
foe.

"I wish that we could carry these magnificent tusks with us, but that is
out of the q