y elephants he had killed, and
had been expressing his hopes that they soon should have an
elephant-hunt.

"Well," observed Swinton, after the laugh was over, "it proves that Adam
is an elephant-hunter, and knows what to do in time of danger."

"Yes," replied the Major; "and it also proves that our opinion of him
was just, and that with him the best part of valor is discretion."

"The most wonderful escape from an elephant which we have on record
here," observed Swinton, "is that of Lieutenant Moodie; did you ever
hear of it? I had it from his own lips."

"I never did, at all events," said Alexander; "and if the Major has, he
will listen very patiently, to oblige me."

"I have never heard the precise particulars, and shall therefore be as
glad to be a listener as Wilmot."

"Well, then, I will begin. Lieutenant Moodie was out elephant-hunting
with a party of officers and soldiers, when one day he was told that a
large troop of elephants was close at hand, and that several of the men
were out, and in pursuit of them. Lieutenant Moodie immediately seized
his gun, and went off in the direction where he heard the firing.

"He had forced his way through a jungle, and had just come to a cleared
spot, when he heard some of his people calling out, in English and
Dutch, 'Take care, Mr. Moodie, take care,' As they called out, he heard
the crackling of branches broken by the elephants as they were bursting
through the wood, and then tremendous screams, such as we heard this
night. Immediately afterward four elephants burst out from the jungle,
not two hundred yards from where he stood. Being alone on the open
ground, he knew that if he fired and did not kill, he could have no
chance; so he hastily retreated, hoping that the animals would not see
him. On looking back, however, he perceived, to his dismay, that they
were all in chase of him, and rapidly gaining on him; he therefore
resolved to reserve his fire till the last moment, and, turning toward
some precipitous rocks, hoped to gain them before the elephants could
come up with him. But he was still at least fifty paces from the rocks,
when he found that the elephants were within half that distance of
him,--one very large animal, and three smaller,--all in a row, as if
determined that he should not escape, snorting so tremendously that he
was quite stunned with the noise."

"That's what I call a very pretty position," observed the Major. "Go on,
Swinton; the affair is b