9

II OFF FOR THE FRONT 21

III QUILQUA THE MYSTERIOUS 33

IV MAKING READY 46

V THE FIRST HUNT 59

VI MOUNT KENIA 71

VII ELEPHANT 83

VIII A RECONNAISSANCE 95

IX INTO THE UNKNOWN 108

X MOWBRAY'S END 120

XI THE DESERT TREK 133

XII A DESERTED LAND 145

XIII A DESPERATE BATTLE 158

XIV THE LAKE OF MYSTERY 170

XV "UNDER THE LEFT GATE-POST" 182

XVI SELIM SHOWS HIS TEETH 194

XVII FRESH SPOOR 206

XVIII LOST! 218

XIX THE ROGUE ELEPHANT 230

XX THE BACK TRAIL 242

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

It seemed that the great beast was towering
over him, reaching for him with that terrible
trunk. Then he drew a careful bead on the
left fore-shoulder. _Frontispiece_

Everything else was forgotten in the novel
method of riding. _Page 54_

For the man, just as he relapsed into unconsciousness,
murmured four words:
"Help--me debbil man!" _Page 118_

One slash of the knife, and out trickled a
little stream of yellow grains into the brown
fist of the explorer. _Page 192_

The Rogue Elephant

CHAPTER I

A CHANCE "OUT"

"You are so crazy as a loon! Boys? Boys to such a drip dake? Nein!"

Von Hofe excitedly pounded the table until the attendants at the
Explorers' Club stared. Then he leaned back determinedly and lighted his
meerschaum. The lean, bronzed man who sat opposite pushed away his maps
with a smile.

"You misunderstand, von Hofe. I know both these boys personally and
vouch for them. You have agreed that this is to be no milk-and-water
trip, with hundreds of porters bearing bath tubs and toilet water, but
that we shall live off the land as we go. That right?"

The German nodded amid a cloud of smoke.

"You want me to take you into the elephant country and shoot your
specimens. I have agreed to do this. I know Africa and I can do it. You
are paying the expenses of the trip, but that is immaterial. If we
hitch up, von Hofe, it will be on the understanding that I am in command
of this expedition; that I choose those I want to go along, and that you
are with me to prepare your s