pointing to a large tree at no great distance from us.

Harry and I followed his example, hoping that Charley and Tubbs would
hear the sounds in time to make their escape. The trumpeting and
crashing sounds drew nearer. Presently we caught sight of several huge
trunks lifted in the air, with gleaming tusks below them, and the huge
heads of the savage monsters among the leaves.

"Here, massa, here, get up!" exclaimed Aboh, reaching the foot of the
tree.

As he spoke, seizing a bough, he swung himself up with the agility of a
monkey onto a lower branch. I cast my eye behind me, when what was my
horror to see Charley coming along with three or four elephants dashing
at full speed not thirty yards behind him. It seemed scarcely possible
that he could reach a place of safety before he was overtaken. All my
thoughts were now turned on Charley, and I regretted that I had not
managed to hand my rifle to Aboh before climbing up myself. Charley had
dropped his, and came bounding along, the elephants, however, gaining on
him. He saw us, and made towards the tree. Aboh and I stooped down to
catch his hands and help him up. He was within twenty yards of us, when
his foot caught in one of the treacherous vines which crept in snakelike
coils over the ground and hung from numberless branches, and he fell.
He was instantly, however, again on his feet, and came rushing on as
before; but the delay had enabled the leading elephant to gain on him.
We shrieked and shouted to encourage him, or perhaps impelled to do so
by our fears. He reached the foot of the tree. In another instant the
elephant would have seized him with its trunk or trampled him under its
feet. Had he not possessed unusual activity his destruction would have
been certain. He grasped the bough nearest him. Aboh sprang down and
got him by one hand. I seized him by the other. The elephant's trunk
was already touching his leg, which would the next moment have been
encircled in its fatal embrace. We tugged and hauled; the animal caught
his shoe, which happily gave way, and Charley was out of its reach. We
now breathed more freely, for the tree was far too stout to enable the
elephants to tear it down. The beast which had so nearly caught Charley
stood trumpeting with rage beneath our feet, lifting up his trunk in a
vain attempt to reach us.

We, as may be supposed, climbed higher up, so as to be well out of his
way. In a few seconds the remainder of the