Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/297

 do not perceive a tree to which we can fasten ourselves. It appears to me that the chase must be given up."

"Wait, my dear Dick; you never could hunt in grass higher than yourself. We shall find a favorable place presently."

It was, indeed, a charming excursion—a veritable navigation upon this sea—so beautifully green, almost transparent—undulating softly at the breathing of the wind. The boat now justified its name, and appeared to cleave the waves, except when a flight of birds with splendid plumage escaped sometimes from the high grass, and with a thousand joyous cries broke the illusion. The grapnels plunged into this lake of flowers and formed a furrow which immediately closed behind them like the wake of a vessel.

All at once the balloon experienced a great shock; the grapnel had no doubt been caught in the fissure of a rock concealed beneath the gigantic mass. "We have caught," said Joe.

"All right, throw out the ladder," said Kennedy.

These words had scarcely been uttered, when a sharp cry resounded through the air, and was thus commented upon by the travelers.

"What's that?" said one.

"A most singular cry!"

"Hollo! we are moving."

"The anchor has detached."

"No, it is all right," said Joe, who was hauling at the rope. "It is the rock that moves."

A great disturbance was now perceived in the grass, and soon a long and sinuous form raised itself over them. "A serpent!" cried Joe.

"A serpent!" said Kennedy, snatching up a carbine.

"No," said the doctor, "it is the trunk of an elephant."

"An elephant, Samuel?" and Kennedy, as he spoke, brought the gun to his shoulder.

"Wait, Dick, wait."

"Without doubt, the animal will pull us along."

"And in the right direction, Joe."

The elephant advanced with some rapidity, and soon arrived at an open space, where they had an uninterrupted view of him. In his enormous bulk, the doctor recognized the male of a magnificent species; he had two beautiful