THE ELEPHANT HUNTING-GROUND—THE BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIE SKIRTING THE
FOREST—THE WELCOME SKY AND SUN AND STARS AFTER THE FOREST
GLOOM—HUNTING ELEPHANTS BY MOONLIGHT—THREE LARGE HERDS—NARROW
ESCAPE OF OSHORIA AND MYSELF—DEATH OF THE HUGE TUSKER.
We took up our march again at dawn, walking at a very quick pace, for we
were all anxious to reach the prairie. After travelling about eight
miles I noticed that the light in the forest was getting brighter. This
was the sure indication that we were coming to an open space. A moment
after, we came out on a lovely prairie, which, after the dark forest,
looked the more beautiful. It was so pleasant to see again the blue sky,
the white floating clouds, and the sun, to feel the wind blowing in our
faces,—for the forest is all the time as quiet as if wind did not exist.
“To-night,” I thought, “how happy I shall be, for I shall see the stars
and the moon.”
The waving grass looked very lovely to me, for I was tired of seeing
nothing but trees day after day, month after month, and the world had
never appeared more beautiful than it did that morning. Perhaps also it
was because I had found my friends again.
I stood still for a while, gazing at the sky, and said: “Sunshine makes
the heart of man happy. I do not wonder that in ancient times men
worshipped the sun, for it is the source of all life upon earth. Without
sun no vegetation or life would exist.”
Along the borders of the forest were groups of plantain trees, some
standing not far from us.
“The elephants are, as we know, in the neighborhood,” said Oshoria.
“They will surely come here to eat the young leaves of the plantain
trees and their fruit. We could not be here at a better time, for the
moon is on the wane and we shall be able to see the elephants well and
at the same time the moon will not be too bright. Let us build our camp
on the border of the forest.”
To this we all agreed, and the rest of the day we were busy collecting
material for our camp. Afterwards we cleaned our guns, and swore that we
would not return to the plantation before killing an elephant or two.
That night we slept soundly, for we needed rest. In the morning I left
my men in the camp, as I loved to hunt alone. I walked along the border
of the forest, thus having all the way a good sight of the prairie,
while at the same time I was hidden by the trees.
I had walked hardly two hours before I thought I heard the booming tramp
of elephants. I lay down upon the ground, my right ear to the earth in
order to make sure that I was not mistaken. I heard nothing, however,
and thought I must have been mistaken. But, continuing my way, I
suddenly heard a great racket in the forest. Elephants were breaking
branches of trees. I looked at “Bulldog”; it was all right. I advanced
cautiously in the direction of the noise, and soon saw under the trees
bordering the prairie five elephants,—a bull and four cows. I crawled
towards them like a snake. I drew nearer and nearer. Now and then I
would raise my head above the grass to get a look at the elephants. The
bull was a huge creature and seemed to be over ten feet in height,—the
cows from nine to nine feet and a half. Finally I hid behind a tree, for
I wanted to watch the noble animals at my ease. I noticed the big tusks
of the bull and thought of his charging a man and impaling him upon
them.
The animals were feeding upon the fruit growing upon a cluster of trees.
One was shaking a tree with its trunk entwined round the slender stem.
Another was butting its head against a tree, and after a lot of the
fruit had fallen they picked it up, uttering occasionally a gentle
trumpeting of contentment.
I was so intensely interested in watching them, that I forgot that I had
“Bulldog” with me. All at once the bull trumpeted loudly and they all
fled, plunging headlong into the forest. I immediately returned to the
camp and told of the news. We held a council, and it was agreed that we
should set out on an elephant hunt that night.
We took a survey of the surrounding country and saw that the forest
advanced here and there into the prairie just as the land does into the
sea, and formed in a number of places what might be called capes. These
capes were splendid places from which to watch for elephants. We waited
impatiently for the night and lighted no fire that day. We agreed to
divide into two parties, Oshoria and I going to the nearest cape on our
right, which was near a fine field of plantain trees. Ogoola, Quabi, and
Ngola were to go to another cape on our left, from which they could also
have a good view of the surrounding country. They could see far towards
the north, we towards the south.
When evening came we bade each other good-night and started for our
respective places. When I looked back I saw the dark forms of Ogoola,
Quabi, and Ngola moving away from us. We reached our place and hid under
a tall tree, the branches of which extended over the grass. We were at
the extreme end of the point, near a big field of plantain trees, a
great many of these bearing fruit not yet full grown. The stars were
shining brightly in the blue sky and multitudes of fireflies were moving
above the grass, almost illuminating the prairie.
By the brighter light above the trees we knew that the moon had risen.
After a while it appeared just above the forest, and gradually rose
higher and higher and shed its tempered light over the country.
Soon life began to show itself—I saw a few antelopes emerging from the
forest. They were fine animals, with long spiral horns, but we let them
alone, for we were after larger game. On the other side of the prairie
we saw a large herd of buffaloes—I counted thirty-seven of them. Their
bulls are very dangerous animals; they charge furiously, and only a very
powerful gun can be effective with a shot in front, on account of the
formation of their horns. I always took very careful aim when shooting
them—they were among the animals I dreaded most. They hide during the
day in the forest, and come out at night. But we left the buffaloes also
alone.
How impressive was the night on the prairie. We could hear once in a
while the cry of the owl, and see flying squirrels above our heads. The
sky and the dear twinkling stars were looking down upon us.
The time seemed very long, as it always does when one is kept waiting.
Three hours passed away. No elephants had come in sight. I scanned the
prairie carefully as far as my eye could reach. Suddenly my attention
was drawn, in the far distance, towards a big black spot in the grass
which I took to be a cluster of shrubs, but wondered that I had not
noticed it before. I watched the black spot, for I was not sure that it
was formed by young trees. Soon I saw it moving slowly and advancing
towards our side of the prairie. I thought they were elephants, but they
might also have been hippopotami, for there might have been a river in
the neighborhood. The animals were so far away I could not distinguish
them.
I looked for Oshoria, but he was not in sight. Where had he gone?
[Illustration: _“I distinguished a huge bull which was leading them”_]
The black mass kept moving slowly, and I watched it intently. After a
while, I made out certainly that it was a herd of elephants. Later I
distinguished a huge bull which was leading them. I counted twenty-three
elephants. Looking again for Oshoria, I saw him standing close to me,
also watching the elephants. He made a sign for me to follow him, which
I did. Then he pointed out to me a big, moving black mass. It was
another herd, but much larger than the one I had discovered. They were
walking slowly in the direction of Quabi, Ngola, and Ogoola. I could see
the herd sidewise. The elephants were led by a huge bull, which looked
larger than any of the others. I made out forty-three elephants. As they
stood still, their bodies slowly rocked and swayed to and fro. Once in a
while their big ears pricked up. Their trunks were in motion, curling
and uncurling themselves. Their tails with the long, coarse, black hair
beat their flanks. Now and then the cows squealed, and their squeals
were followed by the violent trumpeting of the bulls, which sounded
strange in the midst of the silence of the night.
Suddenly the herd stopped, and the bull uttered a piercing trumpeting.
Did he scent danger? Was he aware of our presence? What was the cause of
the sudden halt? These were questions I asked myself. After a while I
heard another trumpeting, unlike the first one we heard. Then a general
trumpeting of all the herd filled the prairie with its sound. This was
responded to by a loud, angry trumpeting from the bull of the other
herd. Were these two bulls to fight for the mastery of the two herds? A
fight between two such monsters would be fine to look at. “If the bulls
fight,” I whispered very low to Oshoria, “we must look on and not fire
at them.”
I had hardly uttered these words when a big cloud hid the moon, and the
herd of elephants could not be seen. When the cloud had passed over, we
saw the elephants moving slowly.
Just then I was startled by a great crash of trees in our rear.
Elephants were in the forest and were going out on to the prairie. The
noise they made as they tramped in the jungle came nearer and nearer;
the huge creatures were evidently coming our way. Oshoria came close to
me and took me to a very large tree, so as to be protected by its size,
which would prevent us from being trampled upon by the elephants.
Suddenly the elephants stopped, the bull uttered a sharp and shrill
trumpeting. The bulls of the two other herds answered also with
trumpetings of defiance. There was to be a great battle. For one reason
or another the elephants in the forest changed their course and entered
the prairie on our right. I counted seventeen of them; they were walking
in single file, led by the bull, which after a while stopped; the herd
then came together into a group. The bull uttered another loud
trumpeting, which was answered by the trumpeting of the other two bulls.
Not a buffalo was in sight; at the appearance of the elephants they had
moved away.
It was a fine sight to see these three herds walking slowly in the
prairie, with the dim light of the moon shining upon them. They were the
very emblem of strength among the animals of the earth. The herd that
had been in our rear was the first to enter a plantain field. Soon after
we heard them breaking the plantain trees, while the animals now and
then gave forth low trumpetings of satisfaction.
We left our hiding-place and crept towards the plantain trees. Oshoria
looked at his guns,—I looked at mine. The cartridges were in place. Soon
we were in the midst of the scattered elephants. I had hardly seen them
when I thought I heard the trampling of one of the two other herds
coming in our direction. If that was the case, we should be in great
danger, for we should find ourselves between the two herds. If they met,
it was probable that the two bulls would fight. “Who knows,” I said to
myself, “perhaps the third herd is coming here also. Then there may
ensue a grand battle among the bulls for the mastery of the herds,—and
the cow elephants may run in every direction.”
There was no time to be lost, if we did not wish to have elephants all
around us; either we must kill one of those in sight, or fire a gun to
scare them. In either case there was danger.
I noticed that the bull and cow elephants were restless,—they evidently
thought the two other herds were coming towards them.
Oshoria, who was within a few feet from me, was in a better position to
shoot, for I had a number of plantain trees in my way. I could not get a
good aim.
The gun of Oshoria rose slowly,—then I saw a flash and heard a terrific
detonation, and, to my consternation, the bull charged in my direction.
He had had a glimpse of me. He was coming at full speed, while the crash
made by the frightened and fleeing elephants added to the confusion.
In the twinkling of an eye I took three steps backward, and was
protected by the burned trunk of a tree. I was just in time. The
infuriated animal passed close by me. As he did so, I fired behind his
right shoulder, but he did not fall, and went on into the forest
followed by the cow elephants. I was sure “Bulldog” had hit the huge
beast, and Oshoria was much surprised that the elephant had not fallen
dead. He eyed “Bulldog,” as if to say: “I do not understand why you did
not kill the elephant outright.”
In the meantime, the detonation of our guns had scared the two other
herds; we heard them tearing down everything in the forest that opposed
their flight. This was a narrow escape of mine; but for the tree I
should have been trampled upon or impaled,—so quick was the charging of
the bull. Then the advice of Regundo came into my mind, that a hunter
should never lose his head before sudden danger. I was covered with
perspiration, and my heart beat quickly from the excitement.
We returned to the camp, and Ngola, Ogoola, and Quabi came back at dawn,
reporting that they had been watching the two herds of elephants, and
fully expected to kill one, but the firing of our guns had blighted
their hopes.
After breakfast, Oshoria and I went in search of the bull we had shot,
for we were sure he was wounded. We came to the track the elephant had
left behind him, and after a short time, not five hundred yards from the
place where we had shot him, Oshoria gave a cluck to draw my attention,
and pointed ahead. I looked and saw a huge bull elephant lying on the
ground upon his stomach, with his head downward, but facing us. Our
coming seemed to rouse him. He raised his head and looked at us. He
evidently recognized in us his enemies of the night, who had inflicted
his deadly wound,—and before we had even time to think, and while I was
pitying the poor beast, he rose and charged us at furious speed. We had
just time to get out of his way. He dashed past us and fell down,
exhausted by his efforts. He wanted revenge before dying. Oshoria fired
at the elephant and shouted to me to fire, for he was not sure that he
would not rise again. The magnificent beast was dead when we came near.
He was over ten feet in height, and had very large tusks. We found that
he had been wounded. His charge had been so unexpected that I wondered
that one of us had not been killed. This was the narrowest escape I ever
had with elephants.
I looked at the huge bull. His thick hide was covered with scars,—most
of them healed, but two or three new. All bore witness to the numerous
fights he had had with other bulls for the mastery of the herd. He had
had to assert his supremacy by constant fighting, and had he not been
killed by us, the day was sure to come, as he grew old, when he would at
last find a bull stronger than he was.
At the sound of our guns Ogoola, Ngola, and Quabi left their camp and
soon came up. Oshoria and I were seated on the huge beast when they
appeared. Oshoria shouted to them: “We are men! We are men!” and they
responded: “You are men! You are men indeed!”
Quabi went after an axe and the big hunting-knives. The first thing we
did on his return was to take off the fine tusks from the elephant’s
head. It was hard work, for they were embedded in the skull for nearly
three feet. One tusk weighed ninety-seven, the other ninety-one pounds.
The tusks are never of the same weight. Then we brought a great deal of
the meat to the camp, for we had nothing to eat, and the men took two
large pieces into the forest for Mombo and Olombo.