Ialwayskeptmygunsandammunitioninbeautifulorder，arrangedonarackinthecabin。Ontheleft-handsideweretheshotguns，i。e。，twobreechloadingNo。12；fourmuzzleloadingNo。10。Ontheright，therifles：thelittle”Dutchman，”twobreechloadingReillyNo。8，twomuzzleloadingHollandhalf-pounders，thatcarriedanironlead-coatedexplosiveshell，containingaburstingchargeofhalfanounceoffinegrainpowder。Thesetwoelephantrifleswereveryhardhitters，andcarriedtwelvedrachmsofpowder。Theammunitionfortherifleswasonashelfthatformedtherack，containedinasmallbagwithasimplereload，andalargebagwithaconsiderablesupply。Thesmallbagwasintendedforthedeck，shouldIcallsuddenlyforarifle。
Seeingthattheelephantsweresonear，Iatonceorderedmyhorse，”GreedyGrey，”tobesaddled，andtheriflesandammunitiontobesentafterme。Myservant，Suleiman，whohadstartedwithmefromAlexandria，wasanhonest，goodcreature，butsoexceedinglynervousthathewasphysicallyuselessinanysuddenemergency。Theclimateofthemarshesduringourlongvoyagehadsoaffectedhisnervoussystem，thatanyalarmorstartwouldsethimtremblingtosuchanextent，thathisteethchatteredasthoughhehadbeenbathinginicedwater。However，therewasnotimetolose，asIexpectedthatshouldtheelephantsobserveourvessels，andthetroopsintheirscarletuniform，theywouldimmediatelywheelroundandbeoff，atthepacewhichanAfricanelephantknowssowellhowtouse。
Iquicklymounted”GreedyGrey”andtoldSuleimantosendonmyriflesdirectly，withammunition。
Iorderedmymentorunuptheheights，andtocomedownatabout200
pacesintherearoftheelephants，wheretheyweretoformalineasthoughinskirmishingorder。Thislineofredshirtswouldmostprobablychecktheelephantsfromrushingback。Mymenhadorderstofireattheelephants，andtoendeavourtoturnthemshouldtheyattemptaretreat。
Iwasnowon”GreedyGrey；”theslopinggroundwasascleanasarace-course，Ithereforegallopeduptheinclinesoastokeepabovetheelephants。Thehorseflewalongatfullspeed。Atthismoment，achorusofshoutsfromgreatnumbersofnativeswhohadcollectedontheeastbankoftheriverwasraisedinadmirationofthewhitehorse，whichtheyprobablythoughtwouldinsomemannerseizetheelephants。
InaveryfewsecondsIreinedupontheslope，aboutahundredyardsabovetheherd，whichhadnowhaltedclosetotheriver’sbank。Theyregardedthehorsewithsomecuriosity，andmassedthemselvestogether。
Inthemeantime，my”Forty，”whowerecapitalrunners，weremovingrapidlyalongtheheights，andtheypresentlycamedown，andformedinalong，openlinefromtheedgeoftheriveruptheslope。Duringthisoperation，theelephantsonlymovedtheirearsandtrunks，butremainedinthesameposition。Theywerenowcompletelysurrounded；thediahbeeahandmypeoplewereintheirfront，Iwasabovethemononeflank，andtheservantswerecomingupwiththerifles。Intheirrearwasalineofabouttwentysoldiers，andontheotherflankwasthedeepriver，about110yardswidefromthemainlandtotheisland。
JustastherifleswerewithinafewyardsofmeandIwaspreparingtodismount，theelephantswheeledsuddenlyround，andtooktowater。
Theyhadbeenstandinginalow，swampyspotthatwasfrequentlyoverflowed：thustheyhadnodifficultyindescendingtotheriver。
Closetothisplace，thebankswereperpendicular，andashardasbrick。
Irandowntotheriver，butbythetimeofmyarrival，theelephantshadgainedtheoppositebank；there，however，theywereinadifficulty。
Thewaterwasdeep，andtheshoreoftheislandwasperpendicular，andaboutsixfeetabovethewater。Theycouldnotgetoutwithoutbreakingdownthebanksoastoformanincline。Alreadytheseenormouscreatures，whichareaccustomedtosuchdifficulties，weretearingdowntheearthwiththeirtusksandhorny-toedfeet；stillitwasaworkoftime，thatgavemeagoodopportunity。
Itwasdifficulttoobtainashot，astheelephantswereendon。Thedistancewasabout110yards，whichisveryuncertainforsolargeananimal，thatmustbestruckexactlyintherightplace。
IfiredseveralshotswiththeNo。8breechloader，aimedatthebackoftheirheads，butnoneoftheseweresuccessful。
Monsoorhadtheammunition，andreloadedforme。Thestunningeffectoftheheavymetalconfusedtheanimalsandcausedonetofallbackwardintothescramblingherd。Thisturnedanelephantsideways。Thebankhadalreadygivenwayandhadfalleninlargemassesintothewater，whichreducedthedepth。Theelephants，whichhadnowgainedamuddyfooting，ploughedandtoredowntheyieldingearthwithredoubledvigour，asmymeningreatexcitementopenedahotfireuponthemwiththesniderrifles。Thesehadaboutasmucheffectasthoughtheyhadbeenpeltedwithstones。
Presently，asthedepthwaslessenedbythefallingbank，theelephantsshowedmorebodyabovethesurface。Thesplashingandscramblingwasextraordinary；atlengthalargebullhalfascendedthebank，andforamomentexposedhisflank；IfiredaquickrightandleftshotwithaReillyNo。8behindhisshoulder，andhefellbackwardsintotheriver，wherehecommencedaseriesofwildstrugglesthatbroughthimwithintwentyyardsofme，andIsentaballintohisheadwhichkilledhim。
Thepowerfulstreamatoncecarriedawaythefloatingcarcase。
Thebankhadnowcompletelygivenway，andanelephantwasnearlyonthesummit。IfiredathimwithoneoftheHollandhalf-pounders，whichbytherecoilflewoutofmyhandsforadistanceofseveralyards；thiswasloadedwithtwelvedrachmsoffine-grainpowder。Theelephantfellonhiskneesonthesteepincline，andwasbaggedtoallintentsandpurposes，butbelievingthatIhadplentyofammunitionathand，Ifiredanotherhalf-pounderintohisshoulder，whichkilledhimonthespot，andherolledintothewater，andthecurrenttookhimaway。
Iimmediatelysentamantoorderboats，withropesandaxes，tofollowthecarcases。
InthemeantimeIfiredmylastNo。8intotheshoulderofanelephantthathadjustclimbedthebankandgainedtheisland。Inowhadagloriousopportunityofashoulder-shotateveryanimalasitshouldascendthesteepincline。
Myammunitionwasexhausted！Myservant，Suleiman，hadsentthelittlebagthatcontainedonlyonereloadforthebreech-loaders，andnopowderflaskorshellsforthehalf-pounders。Ihadnowtheannoyanceofwitnessingthedifficultascentoftheelephantsinsinglefile，exposingtheirflanksinsuccessiontotheshoulder-shot，whileI
remainedahelplesslooker-on。
Ihadthusbaggedonlytwooutofeleven，butthesewerekilledatverylongshotsabout110yards。
Thehalf-pounderrifleswerethesamecalibreandpatternasthatdescribedin”TheNileTributariesofAbyssinia”as”theBaby。”TheseweremadebyMr。HollandofBondStreet，andarethemostoverpoweringriflesIeverused。Theywerecertaintokilltheelephant，andtohalfkillthemanwhofiredthemwithtwelvedrachmsoffine-grainpowder。I
wastolerablystrong，thereforeIwasneverkilledoutright；butanArabhunterhadhiscollar-bonesmashedbytherecoil，whentheriflewasloadedwithsimplecoarse-grainpowder。Ifhehadusedfinegrain，I
shouldhardlyhaveinsuredhislife。
Theelephantshavinggainedtheisland，remainedsometimeexposed，beforetheymadeuptheirmindstocrosstotheotherside。
Unfortunately，theboatshadfollowedthecarcasesoftheelephantsdowntheriver，whichweretwomilesdistantbeforetheycouldbesecured；
thereforewehadnomeansofreachingtheisland。Ourvesselscouldnothavecrossed，asthereweremanyrocksbelowstream。
IthereforetookafewshotswithHale’srockets，oneofwhichjustgrazedtherumpofanelephant，andsentthemoffingreatastonishment。
Wethentriedafewshotswiththefieldpiece，butthegunmadebadpractice，andtheshellsexplodedverywildlyandnotaccordingtothedistancesregulatedbythefuses。
Thespecificgravityoftheelephantdiffersconsiderablyfromthatofthehippopotamus。Thelatteranimalinvariablysinkswhenkilled，andthebodyrisestothesurfaceinabouttwohours，whenthegashasdistendedthestomach。Thebodyofanelephantfloatsonthesurfaceimmediatelythatitiskilled，andiscapableofsupportingoneormorepersons。Thecavityofthecarcaseismuchlargerintheelephantthaninthehippopotamus；thelatterisadensemassofflesh，coveredbyanexceedinglythickandheavyskin，thespecificgravityofwhichisconsiderablygreaterthanwater。
CHAPTERXIII。
MORALRESULTSOFTHEHUNT。
Themoralresultoftheelephanthuntwasverysatisfactory，atthesametimemostunexpected。
Thesoundofcannonhadbeenheardbythenativesformanymiles；thishadawakenedtheircuriosity，andnumbershadspedfromthesurroundingheightsandsatisfiedthemselvesthatseveralelephantshadbeenkilled。
ThenativesofBeddenflockedtoourlittlecampinhundreds，andweredelightedatreceivingpermissiontotakeasmuchelephant’sfleshastheyrequired。Theyracedalongthebankforacoupleofmilestothespotwherethetwoelephantshadbeensecuredbymypeople，andtoweduponasand-bank。
Ihadsentdownanoggurtomakesureoftheheads，astheopportunityofobtainingentireskullsseldomoffered。Thesetwoheadshadnowbeenbroughtsafelytocamp，andthenativeswereemployedincleaningeveryatomoffleshfromthebone。
Inthemeantime，greatnumbersofourenemiesweretobeseensquattingupontheheights，watchingthehappierBarisofBedden，whohadcongregatedlikevulturesintheriver，andwerequarrellingandscramblingovertheimmensecarcasesoftheelephants。Thetemptationwastoogreattowithstand。Whocouldresistflesh?Themouthsofourenemieswerewatering，astheywatchedtheheavyloadsofredmeatcarriedupontheheadsoftherivalBaris。Intheafternoon，amessengerhailedthesentrytosaythatoneofthesheikswishedtopresenthimselftometocraveacessationofhostilities。Shortlyafterthedisappearanceofthismanwithacourteousanswer，abatchofmessengersarrivedtobegthattheirchiefmightbereceived，astheyalldesiredpeace。
OnthefollowingmorningIheldagenerallevee。Abouttwentyheadmen，orsheiksofprincipalvillages，attendedbymanyoftheirpeople，cametopresentthemselvesandtosueforpeace。Ireceivedthechiefsonmydiahbeeah，andeachreceivedapresentofalongblueshirtashesteppedonboard。TheynowseatedthemselvesbyBedden，andageneralexplanationtookplace。
Iassuredthemofmyregretthattheyhadforcedmeintowar，asmymissiontothecountryhadbeenoneofpeace；atthesametimetheymusthaveseenhowimpossibleitwastoresistthetroopswhowerearmedwithweaponsofprecision，anddrilledinamannerverydifferentfromthecompaniesofslave-hunters。
ItoldthemthatIhadmanythousandcattle，andthathadtheyagreedtosellmethecornthatwasabsolutelyneededforthetroops，Ishouldhavepaidforitpunctuallywithcows，asIhadpromisedthemwhenI
firstenteredtheirdistrict。Ialsoexplainedthat，astheymusthaveobserved，Ihadnevertakenasingleheadofcattlefromthem，althoughIhadfrequentlyheardthelowingoftheiroxen。Ihadadoptedthisconduct，althoughinactualwar，merelytoimpressuponthemthefactthattheymightdependuponmyword。Ihadofferedtoexchangemycattlefortheircorn；thushadItakentheircattle，theymighthavedisbelievedmysincerity。
Theyreplied，that”itmustbeexpectedthatlittledifferenceswouldoccuratthebeginning。”TheyhadbeenincitedagainstusbytheBarisofBelinian，andthewarwasentirelytheirownfault。Atthesametimetheylaughed，andsaidthat”hungerwasaverybadthing，andthathungrymenwouldalwaysfilltheirstomachs，iftheycould，thereforewehadbeenquiterighttotaketheircorn。”Theydeclaredthatitdidnotintheleastmatter，astheislandswereveryfertile，andwouldproduceanothercropveryquickly；inthemeantimetheyhadagoodsupplyconcealed，andtheirlossonlynecessitatedalittleextralabour。
Theycontinuedthispeaceableconversationbysaying，that”theelephantswereseldomseeninthisdistrict，andthattheBarisdidnotunderstandsuchhunting，buttheyhadheardthecannons，andtheyknewthatweshouldbeabletokillthem。”Themeetingconcludedbyarequestformeat；andthesheikshavinggiveninstructionstocertainmessengers，despatchedthemtosummontheirpeopletothesand-bank，wheretheremainsoftheelephantswerelying。
Inashorttime，swarmsofnatives，latelyourenemies，werecollectingfromallquarters，andhurryingtowardstheattractivespot，asthoughtheyweregoingtoafair。
Igavetheheadmen[*]apresentofbeads，andtookthemtoadmirethemselvesinthelargeglasswithinthecabinofthediahbeeah。I
scrambledsomepoundsofbeadsamongtheirpeople，andgotupfoot-racesforprizes。
[*Footnote：Thesuperiorchiefwaspresentedwithacostumewhichdelightedhim。Thiswasalongblueshirtwithredwaist-band，abrighttinfunnelinvertedtoformahelmetwithafeatherinthetube，andapairofspectacles。Hedeclaredthathewouldbe”theadmirationofthewomen。”]
Thenativesselectedsomeoftheirbestrunners；butalthoughtheyranwell，theywereallbeatenbyAliNedjarofthe”FortyThieves，”whowasthechampionrunneroftheexpedition。
Thesheiksrequestedthatthecannonmightbefiredfortheiramusement。
Ashotwithblankcartridgemadethemlookveryserious。Theythenwenttolookatthetwoelephants’heads，whichtheybelievedhadbeenblownoffbythecannononthedayofthehunt。
Theyreturnedtothediahbeeah，andorderedtheirpeopletobringthepresenttheyhadpreparedforme。Thisconsistedofthirty-onejarsofmerissa，eachofwhichwasdulytastedbythemselvesasaproofoftheabsenceofpoison。