We believe there is a different sound expressed by each of the words,
roar, shriek, yell, and scream: but the first expression of pain or
terror of the elephant in the pit,--the sound that had caused its
companion to retreat, seemed a combination of all the above. Since it
first shook the surrounding atmosphere, it had been often repeated and
the young hunters, familiar with most methods of killing elephants, were
under the impression that the one in the pit was being subjected to some
torture more horrible than any they had ever heard of.
"They have probably placed a pointed stake in the pit," observed
Hendrik, as they approached, "and the animal is impaled upon it."
On coming nearer to the place, they saw that there were people around
the pit,--both men and women. One of the men, intensely Ethiopic in
appearance, came forward as the hunting party approached, and by signs
offered for sale the tusks of the elephant still roaring underneath
them.
"We are safe with these people," remarked Congo. "They are used to
traders, and will do us no more harm than to cheat us in a bargain, if
they can."
On arriving at the pit, our adventurers saw that it was not a square
hole with an upright stake in the centre, as Hendrik had supposed. It
was oval at the top and contracted to a point at the bottom, in the
shape of an inverted cone, leaving no level space on which the elephant
could stand. Its four feet were jammed together; and, compelled to
support the weight of its immense body in this position, the agony it
suffered must have been as intense as the creature was capable of
enduring.
This pit, the plan of which was devised with devilish ingenuity for
producing unnecessary torture, was about nine feet long and apparently
seven or eight in depth, and the struggles of the elephant only had the
effect of wedging its huge feet more closely together and increasing its
tortures.
Two pits had been dug but a short distance from one another; and the
wisdom of this plan had a living illustration before their eyes.
Although the two had been nicely concealed, and the excavated earth
carried away from the place, both had been discovered by the elephant,
but one of them too late. Had there been but one, it would not have
been caught, for it evidently had placed a foot on the first, detected
the hidden danger, and, while in the act of avoiding it, had fallen
suddenly and irrecoverably on to the other.
All the men standing around were armed, the most of them with assegais
or spears, but they were making no attempt to end the agony of the
captured elephant.
Groot Willem stepped in front of it, and was raising the long barrel of
his roer to the level of one of the elephant's eyes, when he was stopped
by two or three of the blacks, who rushed forward and restrained him
from discharging the piece.
Congo, who had professed to understand what they said, told Willem that
the elephant was not to be killed at present.
"What can be the reason of that?" exclaimed Arend. "Can they wish the
animal to live, merely for the sake of witnessing its sufferings? It
cannot be saved. It must die where it is now."
"I'll tell you how it is," said Hendrik. "They have a fine taste for
music, and they intend keeping the elephant in that pit, like a bird in
its cage, for the purpose of hearing the fine notes it is giving out."
One of the blacks was armed with a gun, all but the lock, which last was
wanting! The attention of Groot Willem was particularly directed to
this weapon, its owner holding it out before him, and making signs that
he wished some powder and a bullet for the purpose of loading it.
Willem desired to be informed how the ammunition was to be used, but the
black, by a shake of his woolly head, candidly admitted that he did not
know.
"Ask him what he brought the gun here for," said Willem, speaking to
Congo.
In answer to the question, the man made another confession of ignorance.
A little excitement was now observed amongst the blacks, and another
party was seen approaching from the direction of the village. They
brought news that the head man of the kraal was coming in person, and
that he was to have the honour of killing the elephant. He had lately
purchased a new gun from some _smouse_ or trader, and he was about to
exhibit his skill in the use of it, before the eyes of his admiring
subjects.
On the arrival of the chief, the young hunters saw that the gun in his
possession was a common soldier's musket, very much out of order, and
one that a sportsman would hesitate about discharging.
"The man will never kill the great brute with that thing," said Hendrik.
"He will be far more likely to kill himself, or some of those around
him. If the elephant waits till it is despatched in that way, it stands
a good chance to die of starvation."
The chief seemed very vain of being the owner of a gun, and anxious to
show to his subjects the proper mode of despatching an elephant.
Standing about twenty-five paces from the pit, he took aim at the
animal's head and fired.
The report of the musket was followed by a roar more expressive of rage
than pain, and a small protuberance on the elephant's head showed that
the ball had done no more than to cause a slight abrasion of the skin.
The operation of reloading the musket was performed in about six minutes
and again the chief fired. This time, standing at the distance of
fifteen paces. The elephant again astonished the chief and his
followers, by continuing to live.
Another six or seven minutes were passed in loading the gun, which was
again fired as before. The only acknowledgment the huge beast made of
having received the shot, was another loud cry of impotent rage.
The company around the pit was then joined by a party not hitherto on
the ground. It consisted of Hans with Swartboy and the other followers
of the expedition. They had extracted the tusks of their elephant,
lashed them with rheims to the pack-saddles of two horses, and brought
them along.
"What is all this about?" asked Hans. "Can't you kill that elephant?
I've heard several shots."
"They will not allow us to try," replied Groot Willem. "A chief is
trying to kill it with an old musket, and will neither allow me to fire,
nor that well-armed gentleman standing near him." Willem pointed to him
who carried the gun without a lock.
At this moment, a communication was made to the Kaffir by the native
chief. Annoyed at his want of success, he had some doubts as to his
weapon being what had been represented by the smouse from whom he had
purchased it. He wished to make a comparison of its destructive power
with one of their guns, and Groot Willem was invited to take a shot at
the elephant.
"But, baas Willem," said Congo, as he finished this communication, "you
not do that, you not shoot the elephant."
"Why?" asked Willem, in surprise.
"You kill um with you roer, and then they want from you. They want it,
and sure take it."
"Take what--the elephant?"
"No, baas Willem, the roer," answered the Kaffir.
Though not afraid of having his gun taken from him, Groot Willem and his
companions were unwilling to have any difficulty with the blacks; and
the invitation of the chief was courteously declined. The excuse made
was that, after the failure of the great man himself, any similar
attempts on their part would certainly be unsuccessful.
A general invitation was now given to the company to join in despatching
the elephant; and it was immediately assailed by more than a dozen men
armed with assegais and javelins. They succeeded in killing it in a
little less than half an hour; and, during that time, the torture to
which the poor beast was subjected aroused the indignation of our
adventurers, who, if allowed, could have released it from its agonies in
half a score of seconds. They were true hunters, and, although not
sparing of animal life, they took no delight in its tortures.