The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-08-15
CHAPTER III.
Continued.

TlCh uSSp Slouhu uAouShI uS"A ~ w
rivulet were the cultivated lands, IN
extent somewhere about twenty or
twenty-five acres.
On the kraal side Of these lands stood
n single hnt, which served for mealle
stores, which at the moment was used
as a dwelling place by an old woman
the first wife of our friend the need
man.
1t appears that this old lady, having
lad some difference Of opinion with
her husband about the extent OF au-
thority allowed to younger and more
amiable wife, had refused to dwell IN
the kraal any more, and by way Oh
marking her displeasuTe had taken up
her abode among the mealies.
As the irsue will show, she was, as
it happened, cutting Off her nose TO
spite her face.
Close by this hut grew large BAN
yam tree.
A glance at the mealie grounds
showed me that the old headman had
not exaggerated the mischief done by
the elephants 10 his crops, which were
now getting ripe.
Nearly half of the entire patch was
destroyed.
The great brutes had eaten all they
could, and the rest they had trampled
down.
Iwent up to their spoor and started
back in amaZement.
Never had I seen such spoor before.
1t was simply enormous, more espe-
cially that of one old bull, that had, SO
said the natives, but single tusk.
One might have used any of the foot
prints for a hip-batb.
Having taken stock Of the position,
my next step was to make arrange
ments for the fray.
The three bulls, according to the ma
tives, had been spoored into the dense
patch of bush above the kloof.
Now it seemed to me very probable
that they would return tonight to
feed on the remainder Of the ripening
mealies.
If so, there was 4 bright moon,> and
it struck me that by the exercise OF
little ingenuity I might bag one or
more of them without exposing myself
to any risk, which, having the highest
respect for the aggressive powers OF
bull elephants, was q great considera-
ton to me.
This, then, was my plan: To the
right of the huts as you look up the
kloof, and commanding the mealie
lands. stands the banyan tree that /
have mentioned.
Into this banyan tree I made up my
mind to 90.
Then, if the elephants appeared, l
should get shot at them.
I announced my intentions to the
headman of the kraal, who was de-
lighted.
Now" he said, "his people might
sleep in peace, for while the mighty
white hunter sat aloft like a spirit
watching over the welfare Of his kraal,
what was there to fear"
/ told him that lie was an ungrateful
brute to think of sleeping in peace
while I, perched like wounded vul-
ture on a tree, watched for his vel
fare in wakeful sorrow. and once more
he collapsed, and owned that my words
were sharp but just"
However, as l have said, confidence
was completely restored. and that even
ing everybody in the kraal, including
the superannuated victim of jealousy
in the little hut where the mealie cobs
were stored. went to bed with a sense
of sweet security from elephants and
all other animals that prowl by night.
For my part, I pitched by camp be-
low the kraal; and then, having pro-
cured q beam of wood from the head
man-rather rotten one, by the way
Il set it across two boughs that ran
out laterally from the banyan tree at a
height Of about twenty-five feet from
the ground, in such fashion that and
another man could sit upon it with our
legs hanging down. and rest our backs
against the bole Of the tree.
This done, went back to the camp
and had my supper.
About 8 o'clock, half an hour before
the moon-rise, summoned Gobo-who,
thinking that he had had about enough
of the delights Of big-game hunting for
that day, did not altogether relish the
job-and despite his circumstances,
gave him my eight-borte to carry,
having the $40 express, and set out lor
the tree.
1t was very cark, but we found it
without difficulty, though climbing it
was a more complicated matter.
However, at last we got up, and sat
down like two little boys on form
that is too high for them, and waited.
did not dare to smoke, because re-
membered the rhinoceros and feared
that the elephants might wind the to-
bacco if they should come my way, and
this made the business more weari-
some.
So fell to thinking, and wondering
at the vastness of the silence
At last the moon came up, and with
1t moaning wind. at the breath of
which the silence began to whisper
mysteriously.
Lovely enough, in the newborn light,
looked the wide expanse of mountain,
plain and forest, more like some twi-
light vision of dream. some faint re-
Elections from fair world of peace
beyond our ken, than the mere face Of
garish earth made silvery soft with
sleep.