They arrived at the spot in the afternoon, and every one was busy in making preparations for the following day.  The Hottentots, who had been used to the sport, told long stories to those who had not, and, among the rest, Big Adam spoke much of his prowess and dexterity.  Uncommonly large fires were lighted that night, for fear that the elephants should break into the camp.  All night their cries were to be heard in the forest, and occasionally the breaking of the branches of the trees proved that they were close to the caravan.  Begum, who was particularly alive to danger, crept to Major Henderson’s bed, and would remain there all night, although he several times tried to drive her away.  Notwithstanding continued alarms, the caravan was, however, unmolested.

CHAPTER XIII.

At daylight the following morning, there was a large concourse of Caffres in the camp, all waiting till our travelers were ready for the sport.  Having made a hasty breakfast, they, by the advice of the Caffres, did not mount their horses, but started on foot, as the Caffres stated that the elephants were on the side of the hill.  Ascending by an elephant-path, in less than half an hour they arrived at the top of the hill, when a grand and magnificent panorama was spread before them.  From the crown of the hill they looked down upon a valley studded with clumps of trees, which divided the cleared ground, and the whole face of the valley was covered with elephants.  There could not have been less than nine hundred at one time within the scope of their vision.

Every height, every green knoll, was dotted with groups of six or seven, some of their vast bodies partly concealed by the trees upon which they were browsing, others walking in the open plain, bearing in their trunks a long branch of a tree, with which they evidently protected themselves from the flies.  The huge bodies of the animals, with the corresponding magnitude of the large timber-trees which surrounded them, gave an idea of nature on her grandest scale.

After a few minutes’ survey, they turned to the party who were collected behind them, and gave notice that they were to commence immediately.  The head men of the Caffres gave their orders, and the bands of natives moved silently away in every direction, checking any noise from the dogs, which they had brought with them in numerous packs.  Our travelers were to leeward of the herd on the hill where they stood, and as it was the intention of the natives to drive the animals toward them, the Caffre warriors as well as the Hottentots all took up positions on the hill ready to attack the animals as they were driven that way.