rm, should any danger threaten.

By the aid of their Hottentots and Kaffirs, the hunters had cut out all
the tusks from their elephants by mid-day, and these being carried to
the waggons, were placed therein, each owner's mark being cut on the
tusk. After a hasty meal, it was decided to hunt during the afternoon,
and return before sundown to a new outspanning-place which had been
agreed upon. Some very likely-looking ground was seen from a hill, and
which lay in the north-easterly direction. This country was not at all
known by the hunters, and, in fact, to this day it is not well explored.
Two parties were formed, one of which was to take the more easterly
direction, and then to return by a southerly course; the other to take
the more northerly, and return by a westerly and southerly course. Thus
the whole country would be hunted thoroughly. Hans and his two
companions took the more easterly course, the companions on this
occasion being Bernhard and Victor.

"I know we shall get ivory down by that dark-looking forest," said
Victor, as he pointed to a distant slope on which were masses of trees.
"Elephants will be found there, if there are any about."

"It looks good elephant ground," said Hans; "and it will be well to try
it. There is none better looking round about."

"It was unlucky you lost your far-seer, Hans; that would have told us
what game there was about us."

"Yes, it was unlucky; but let us dismount, and let our horses feed
awhile, whilst we look closely over the country. I can recognise an
elephant a long way off, if I take my time in looking."

The hunters dismounted, and knee-haltering their horses, sat quietly
examining the distant country for several minutes.

"I can see an elephant," at length said Hans. "Come, Victor, your eyes
are good; look in a line with that distant pointed tree; look at that
third cluster of forest trees, and on the right side there is an
elephant. Watch, and you will see him move."

"I see him now you have pointed him out, but I could not say it was an
elephant; it might be a buffalo or rhinoster."

"No, an elephant is more square than either, and does not look so
pointed; it is an elephant, too, by the way it turns. We shall have
more sport to-day, but it will be a long ride to get to those elephants.
We ought to drive them this way, and therefore ought to go round from
the other side, and that will make our ride six miles at least; so we
had better let them