Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 321: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

312 They had been kindly received by the natives, who are always willing to hunt and “ pack ” the game and pro- visions for the white men, and had good success. Arriving at a Kaffr village one eve- ning Hartridge heard recounted at the campfire, the story of a fierce old bull buffalo that had fairly devastated a neighboring district. The beast had, indeed, in a seemingly wanton display of courage, charged directly through a small village, scattering the affrighted inhabitants and bearing away one un- fortunate man upon his horns. Hartridge listened to the natives and determined to have a try at that bull. He was not unfamiliar with the buf- falo and well knew his savage nature; but hitting upon what he decided was the safest method of procedure, he started the very next morning for the haunts of the “ old rogue.” He secured one of the few elephants © belonging to the village and with a na- tive driver set out for the next district. There was nothing but a pad on the elephant’s back, for in Africa the ele- phant is not dressed up in gorgeous blankets and houdahs as is its Indian brother. | Hartridge went alone with the driver, tor he did not want to risk the lives of any of his companions in the hazardous undertaking. One of the young fellows, however, Eugene Carruthers by name, was very desirious of accompanying the older hunter—in fact kicked up quite rusty about it when both Hartridge and his uncle denied him the privilege. A couple of hours after Flartridge had started, however, as previously ar- ranged, the others set off with their carriers for the village near which Paul expected to find the old buffalo bull. The elephant driver was acquainted with the “ beat” of the “old rogue ” and the great strides of their huge steed soon carried them to that por- tion of the brush plain in which the bull was supposed to be lurking. THE ARGODSY. Hartridge was armed with a rifle that threw a ball large enough to kill an elephant and from his high seat could obtain an extended view of the brush covered country. Most of the ground over which they passed was covered with shrubs of more or less height, but occasionally there would be a small glade, entirely free from brush, covered with luxuri- ant grasses which furnished food for herds of herbaceous animals. Antelope there were here of many varieties, and even a few buffalo; but the old bull was not with them. ““QOld rogue’ hide in brush,” de- clared the Hottentot driver. “ No see um till he run.”’ And his statement of the case proved true. It was past noon ere they - came upon their game, and on the ele- phant’s back had “ beat up” a vast ex- tent of country. | Hartridge had just remounted after having quenched his thirst at a spring, when a crashing in the underbrush ap- prised him of the approach of some_ large animal, and an instant later the old bull appeared. | , He was a formidable looking beast, and instead of retreating from the hunters, stood his ground. Evidently he had approached the spring for a drink and was unwilling to: go away without quenching his thirst. The driver of the elephant was ner- vous and begged Hatridge not to miss the beast. But he was in a most unfavorable position for a sure shot, and as the buf- falo refused to move first, shaking his head angrily and throwing the loose earth against his sides with his fore feet, the European told the Hottentot in a low voice, to change the elephant’s position that he might get a better view of his quarry. The first movement of the elephant seemed to inspire the buffalo with fury. He uttered a fierce bellow and charged out of the brush and across the glade toward the enemy. eoniicboo SS CO