The morning was bright and the hour early when the party started. Enola and her friends were seated on huge black elephants with long formidable tusks and trained to the hunt. Around the neck and also around the body, just back of the howdah of each elephant was a band of gold, in which were embedded the handles of large pointed daggers, the blades pointing outward. These were placed for the protection of the elephants and of those who rode them. The rest of the party rode zebras which were to-day only plainly caparisoned. The weapons of the natives consisted of large cross-bows with quivers of flint-pointed arrows, daggers with long, narrow blades and axes with short handles.
About one hundred comprised the party, all well armed and impatient for the hunt. They traversed the same road over which our friends had been conducted when they first came to the city, and very soon passed through a huge gate on the border of the hunting reserve and then across the long stone bridge. Before going through the gate, the zebramen had all dismounted, leaving the zebras to graze in a near-by field until they returned. These men were to beat and cut the bush, to stir up the game and also to make a pathway for the hunters. The footmen went forward, and with huge clubs in one hand and axes in the other, opened up a passage-way. A little while later an open forest was reached and passed; the trees of this forest were literally alive with monkeys which chattered and made grimaces as the party passed. Deer were seen scampering away, and occasionally a huge boa constrictor could be seen crawling through the high grass or suspended from the limb of a tree waiting for its prey. On the opposite side of the forest a thick and almost impenetrable jungle confronted them, but the bush-beaters went to work again and a way was opened up.
Suddenly a roar was heard which was almost deafening. The elephants stopped and began to move their huge ears forward and back and give short cries similar to those of a baby. The men immediately scattered, dividing equally and moving to the right and left. Soon they had formed a circle about two hundred feet in diameter, and then commenced to close in toward the centre. This was slow work but they knew that it would not last long, as the lion or lioness would make a dash for liberty or jump at one of the party. Mr. Graham had directed his elephant near the circle and from his elevated point of view he could occasionally catch a glimpse of a tail above the bush. The men were slowly closing in on the lion and Mr. Graham held his rifle in readiness to get the first shot. Suddenly the lion raised on his haunches so that his head appeared above the bush. This was enough for Mr. Graham, and taking a quick aim at the head, he fired. The lion dropped, and the natives stood aghast at the sound of the shot and the sudden flash of fire and smoke which followed. Mr. Graham slipped from the back of the elephant and made for the bush and, with the help of an axe, which he was wielding, was fast nearing the lion, when the huge beast leaped into the air and struck him fairly on the side of the head. Mr. Bruce, who had half-expected something of the kind, had been waiting for the lion to leap, and as he appeared above the bushes, had aimed at a point just behind the brute’s shoulder and fired. Mr. Graham had been stunned by the powerful blow of the lion and Mrs. Graham screamed and fainted. Leaving the backs of their elephants, Onrai, Harry and Mr. Bruce hurried to their companion’s assistance, and soon reached the spot where he and the lion lay together. He was insensible and bleeding badly from his wound and with the lion lying dead over his lower limbs. Harry and Mr. Bruce called some of the natives, and together they moved the body of the lion, after which they carried Mr. Graham to an open place where his wound was washed and wine being poured between his lips he was soon restored to consciousness. Mrs. Graham was revived by Enola and Nellie, and Mr. Graham refusing to return, he again took his place in the howdah and the hunting party proceeded after leaving a number of the natives behind to skin the lion.
Mr. Bruce’s shot had struck the lion just behind the right shoulder and the bullet had penetrated the heart. It was lucky for Mr. Graham that it did so, for the lion, being maddened with pain, would soon have torn him to pieces. The King and his men looked at the lion carefully, turning it over and over, trying to find the marks of wounds such as their arrows would have made. Harry took his rifle, and handing it to the King, showed him how to hold it properly, and then how to aim it, telling him to aim at one of the lion’s paws. He did so, and pulled the trigger. The King dropped the gun as soon as it was discharged, alarmed at the loud report it had made so near his ears. Harry and the King went up to the lion and pointing to its huge paw, Harry showed Onrai the hole made by the bullet. He was greatly surprised, but could not understand it. Harry then showed him one of the cartridges and explained to him how the concussion caused the powder to ignite, forcing the bullet from the tube and through the gun-barrel with such swiftness as to penetrate anything that it came in contact with. Onrai slowly shook his head as if it were still a puzzle to him.
They again took up the march through the jungle, and presently came to a large stream which must have found its outlet in the river at the base of the mountains. They followed the bank of the river for some distance, until they came to a stone bridge over which they passed. Another open forest was entered, and here was seen the first herd of elephants. Upon catching sight of the elephants which our friends were riding, the curiosity of the herd was aroused, and they came crowding about the hunting party by scores. So quick had been their movements that the men on foot had time to do nothing but climb trees. These elephants were huge monsters, but did not seem ill-disposed towards our friends. They were very curious, and could not understand the queer things on the necks and backs of the domesticated elephants. They came crowding around our friends, shoving their trunks up into their faces and under the saddle-cloths, as if trying to find out all they could about these strange visitors. Occasionally one would come too close to the elephants of our party, and would be pricked by the long daggers about their bodies, when it would give a cry and retreat. The tame elephants paid no attention to the others, seeming to consider them as beneath their notice. They probably looked upon these denizens of the forest as our friends would on a band of savages. Their curiosity satisfied, they slowly retreated through the forest, throwing their enormous trunks into the trees and breaking off limbs half the size of a man’s body. The men came down from the trees and the party again took up the march.
They had proceeded but a short distance when a shriek of terror from Mrs. Graham caused all to look in her direction. A huge gorilla had sprung from a neighboring tree and seized her with his powerful arm, showing his white teeth and chattering wildly. For an instant all was confusion. Harry sprang to the rescue and before the animal could drag Mrs. Graham from the elephant, his rifle was emptied of its deadly load and the gorilla laid writhing on the ground.
With two such experiences in such a short time it was deemed expedient to abandon the hunt for the day, and though Mrs. Graham was sorry to cause this break in the programme she could not but admit her desire to leave a place so fraught with danger. So back through the jungle and forest, over the bridge and through the gate, and along the white road, the cool evening breeze now refreshing them after the fearful heat of the day, the party made its way toward the city.
CHAPTER IX.
THE GOLD MINE AND CAVE OF ICE.
The shock of the day before had left Mrs. Graham in a very nervous condition. Having arrived at the Temple, she was given into the hands of her attendants, who soon had her in the perfumed bath, and with a treatment much resembling our massage, she was soon brought out of her nervousness. Still to-day she was far from feeling like herself, and when Onrai had proposed a trip to the gold mine and quarries, she declined to go.
Mr. Graham, having already visited these places, decided to remain with his wife.