Копи царя Соломона

           Wehadnodifficultyinfindingthebroadelephanttrail,whichVentvögel,afterexamination,pronouncedtohavebeenmadebybetweentwentyandthirtyelephants,mostofthemfull-grownbulls. Buttheherdhadmovedonsomewayduringthenight,anditwasnineo’clock,andalreadyveryhot,before,bythebrokentrees,bruisedleavesandbark,andsmokingdroppings,weknewthatwecouldnotbefarfromthem. 

           Presentlywecaughtsightoftheherd,whichnumbered,asVentvögelhadsaid,betweentwentyandthirty,standinginahollow,havingfinishedtheirmorningmeal,andflappingtheirgreatears. Itwasasplendidsight,fortheywereonlyabouttwohundredyardsfromus. Takingahandfulofdrygrass,Ithrewitintotheairtoseehowthewindwas;forifoncetheywindedusIknewtheywouldbeoffbeforewecouldgetashot. Findingthat,ifanything,itblewfromtheelephantstous,wecreptonstealthily,andthankstothecovermanagedtogetwithinfortyyardsorsoofthegreatbrutes. Justinfrontofus,andbroadsideon,stoodthreesplendidbulls,oneofthemwithenormoustusks. IwhisperedtotheothersthatIwouldtakethemiddleone;SirHenrycoveringtheelephanttotheleft,andGoodthebullwiththebigtusks. 

           "Now,"Iwhispered. 

           Boom!boom!boom!wentthethreeheavyrifles,anddowncameSirHenry’selephantdeadasahammer,shotrightthroughtheheart. MinefellontoitskneesandIthoughtthathewasgoingtodie,butinanothermomenthewasupandoff,tearingalongstraightpastme.