hants always return by the same path at evening or after
nightfall, in whatever direction they may have been feeding, and it is
very dangerous to intercept them.

For two days they continued their course in nearly a straight line for
the missionary establishment. On the second evening, just about dusk,
as they were crossing a woody hill, by the elephants' path, being then
about 200 yards in advance of the waggons, they were saluted with one of
the most hideous shrieks that could be conceived. Their horses started
back; they could see nothing, although the sound echoed through the
hills for some seconds.

"What was that?" exclaimed Alexander.

"Shout as loud as you can," cried the Major; "and turn your horses to
the waggons."

Alexander and Swinton joined the Major in the shout, and were soon
accompanied by the whole mass of Hottentots, shouting and yelling as
loud as they could.

"Silence, now," cried the Major; every one was hushed, and they listened
for a few seconds.

"It was only one, sir, and he is gone," said Bremen. "We may go on."

"Only one what?" inquired Alexander.

"An elephant, sir," replied the Hottentot; "it's well that he did not
charge you; he would have tumbled you down the precipice, horse and all.
There must be a herd here, and we had better stop as soon as we are
down the other side of the hill."

"I think so too," replied the Major.

"I shall not get that shriek out of my ears for a month," said
Alexander; "why, the roar of a lion cannot be so bad."

"Wait till you hear it," replied Swinton.

They had now arrived at the bottom of the hill which they had been
passing, and by the light of the stars they selected a spot for their
encampment. Whether they were near to any Caffre kraals or not it was
impossible to say; but they heard no barking of dogs or lowing of oxen.
Having collected all the cattle, they formed a square of the four
waggons, and passed ropes from the one to the other; the horses and
sheep were driven within the square, and the oxen were, as usual, tied
up to the sides of the waggons.

It should here be observed, that the oxen were turned out to graze early
in the morning, yoked in the afternoon, and they travelled then as far
as they could after nightfall, to avoid the extreme heat of the day, the
continual visits of the Caffres, and the risk of losing the cattle if
they were allowed to be loose and fed during the night.

On the night we have been referring to,