e rest of it--an elephant gun."

Schoverling took the pieces and fitted them together. The barrels were
twisted and bent, the stock splintered. Rubbing the latter clear of
mould, something gleamed in the sun and he uttered an exclamation.

"Mowbray's! Got his name on a silver plate. Well, that's worth keeping
as a trophy, boys. Now about camp. This was a mighty poor place for him
to land, but he wasn't expecting overgrown buffalo and pythons. There's
a little rise behind, where we can camp for to-night, but to-morrow
we'll try to get across to the island. That will be a whole lot safer
from his majesty the rogue."

"Jumping sandhills, I forgot!" cried Charlie suddenly. "Say, General,
we've beat the Arabs back, that's a cinch!"

CHAPTER XV

"UNDER THE LEFT GATE-POST"

They made a brief examination of the ground for any sign of elephant
spoor, but were relieved to find that there was nothing to indicate a
recent visitation from the rogue to the scene of his exploits.

"Hold on," cried Charlie as they remounted. "Something's wrong!"

The faint sound of gun-shots drifted to them against the wind, and as
the safari was out of sight behind the clusters of trees, all three
urged their horses into a gallop, grave anxiety in their hearts. With
rifles ready, they galloped on to find the wagon stuck hard and fast in
a rocky drift, while at one side lay the huge body of a rhinoceros.

"All is well, sahib," saluted Gholab Singh, beaming. Von Hofe grinned
through his beard.

"The rhino wished to inspect us, Schoverling, but the boys soon finished
him off. We'll have to work to get out of this, I fear."

Congratulating the four gun-bearers, all placed themselves at the wheels
of the wagon, while Schoverling went to the heads of the cattle. After
twenty minutes of hard work they got the wagon across the drift and onto
better ground.

They told of finding the camp abandoned by Mowbray, and the General
showed the fragments of the broken elephant-gun. This was a visible sign
that the rogue elephant was indeed to be feared, and the doctor
brightened up and rubbed his hands.

"Ach, he must be wonderful! Let us push on, please!"

They camped that night on the little hill that sloped down to the lake,
just opposite the island. None knew what danger might lurk in the reeds,
and as these seemed to be dry above the level of the water, with the
wind off-shore, they sent the Masai ahead to fire them while the others
waited