day they wandered still farther from their town, and they became anxious
and hungry. As one cannot see many yards off on any side in the forest,
an animal hears the coming step long before the hunter gets a chance to
use his weapon. Therefore, though they heard the rustle of the flying
antelope, or wild pig as it rushed away, it only served to make their
anxiety greater. And the second day passed, and when night came upon
them they were still hungrier.

Towards the middle of the third day, they came into an open place by a
pool frequented by Kiboko (hippo), and there was a margin of grass round
about it, and as they came in view of it, both, at the same time,
sighted a grazing buffalo.

Dudu bade his wife stand behind a tree while he chose two of his best
and sharpest arrows, and after a careful look at his bow-string, he
crept up to the buffalo, and drove an arrow home as far as the guiding
leaf, which nearly buried it in the body. While the beast looked around
and started from the twinge within, Dudu shot his second arrow into his
windpipe, and it fell to the ground quite choked. Now here was water to
drink and food to eat, and after cutting a load of meat they chose a
thick bush-clump a little distance from the pool, made a fire, and,
after satisfying their hunger, slept in content. The fourth day they
stopped and roasted a meat provision that would last many days, because
they knew that luck is not constant in the woods.

On the fifth they travelled, and for three days more they wandered.
They then met a young lion who, at the sight of them, boldly advanced,
but Dudu sighted his bow, and sent an arrow into his chest which
sickened him of the fight, and he turned and fled.

A few days afterwards, Dudu saw an elephant standing close to them
behind a high bush, and whispered to his wife:

"Ah, now, we have a chance to get meat enough for a month."

"But," said Salimba, "why should you wish to kill him, when we have
enough meat still with us? Do not hurt him. Ah, what a fine back he
has, and how strong he is. Perhaps he would carry us home."

"How could an elephant understand our wishes?" asked Dudu.

"Talk to him anyhow, perhaps he will be clever enough to understand what
we want."

Dudu laughed at his wife's simplicity, but to please her he said,
"Elephant, we have lost our way; will you carry us and take us home, and
we shall be your friends for ever."

The Elephant ceased waving his trunk, and n