i; "at least the Zulu tongue."

"Good; then do me the favour to go to the men on the river bank. Tell
them you come from me, use my name, and let them get their boats
together, and join us in our hunt. Senhor de Maxara, will you order
your men to get your boat ready?"

"Surely you will take me with you?" asked Isabel.

"Fair Senhora, there is danger."

"And have I not seen the bull fights of Seville?" asked the girl, her
eyes flashing fire. "Let me be able to say when I return to my country,
that I have also seen the African elephant hunted."

"The animals are sure to take up the river banks for the forest land.
If your boat is large enough to take my pony across, there can be no
reason to say no," replied Assevedo.

The boat was found amply sufficient. A lady's side-saddle was rummaged
out from the luggage; the rifles, of which there were no lack, loaded;
and the whole party, embarked in four canoes and two boats, rowed across
the river. At first they pulled up the stream, so as not to alarm the
elephants, striking the opposite bank much higher than the mouth of the
Shire. Landing, Dom Assevedo posted the men. The elephants, when
disturbed, were certain to take to the water, swim the river, and enter
the woods, which here stretched right away to the foot of the hills.

"Senhor Wyzinski, as you speak the Zulu tongue, will you take the
canoes, and landing in rear of the elephants, make as much noise as
possible, and fire the reeds if necessary."

"Senhor Inglesi, you are the younger man, will you look to the Senhora
Isabel, while I and Dom Francisco take our post under yonder clump of
trees."

Captain Hughes was in the act of ramming down a cartridge as he received
the directions. The rifle was a heavy one, and by a lucky chance two of
Devisme's explosive cartridges fitted the bore.

Dom Assevedo then explained to Isabel that, should the elephants come
her way, she was to ride for the open, where she was perfectly safe, the
animals not being fleet enough to overtake her, and they would be sure
to make for the forest.

The loud cries of the natives were soon heard, and Hughes looked about
him. The Shire river, on whose banks they were, was not broad, though
it appeared deep. They stood facing the river, under a clump of
cocoa-nut trees. To the right at a little distance lay the Zambesi, and
behind them, distant about a thousand yards, began the forest, which
seemed gradually to increase in density