to keep
up a rapid pace for any length of time, and stand no chance with a
horse, except for a few hundred yards. If, however, the huge animals
are not hurried, they will continue striding on at a speed of eight or
ten miles an hour for some time. After about a mile's gallop, the
hunters were once more near their game, and now quite a different kind
of sport commenced to the stalking which had been previously practised.
Riding forward, so as to be slightly in advance of the elephants, the
hunters pulled up their horses, jumped off, and as the animals shuffled
past, sent their four bullets into the largest elephant that remained.
Feeling itself hit, the creature turned on its assailants, and with
upraised trunk and shrill piercing shrieks rushed on. To mount their
horses and gallop off was a momentary proceeding with both Hans and
Victor; but so furious was the savage animal's charge, that it was
nearly catching Victor's horse, and did not cease to pursue until it had
followed its enemies for several hundred yards, when, finding further
pursuit useless, it followed the other elephants. It was not allowed to
go so quietly, however; for the hunters, having reloaded, followed it,
and with a second volley brought it to the ground.

"We must let none of those elephants escape," said Hans, when a second
tail was added to that previously taken. "Bernhard is with the other
party, and depend upon it they will kill more than an elephant each.
There are fine tusks in those elephants' heads on before us, and the
creatures are so blown they cannot run fast now. Two more each will
make it a good day's sport."

Setting spurs to their horses, the pursuit was once more carried on, and
with a discharge of several bullets four more elephants were laid low.

"Now," said Hans, "I will say the sport is good. We can return to our
outspan to-night, and can tell what we have done, not boastfully, but as
men who have done well. I hope the others have been as successful."

On returning to camp, Hofman said--

"Come into my tent to-night, Karls, and eat there; we will then talk
over our day's sport. What have _you_ done, Hans?"

Hans briefly related the results of his day's work, and described the
size of the tusks which his elephants carried.

"You have done better than we have," said Hofman, "for we have only shot
seven amongst us, and two are not full-grown bulls."

As might be expected, the conversation during the evening was