This sort of thing continued for a mile or more, and then I saw that in front of the elephants the valley opened into a space covered with reeds and grass--it might have been five or six acres in extent--beyond which the valley ran on again.
The herd reached the edge of this expanse, and for a moment pulled up, hesitating--evidently they mistrusted it.

My men yelled aloud, as only Kaffirs can, and that settled them.

Headed by the wounded bull, whose martial ardour, like my own, was somewhat cooled, they spread out and dashed into the treacherous swamp--for such it was, though just then there was no water to be seen.

For a few yards all went well with them, though they clearly found it heavy going; then suddenly the great bull sank up to his belly in the stiff peaty soil, and remained fixed.

The others, mad with fear, took no heed of his struggles and trumpetings, but plunged on to meet the same fate.