Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/300

 "We are not ivory merchants, and we have not come here to make our fortunes, have we?"

Joe inspected the grapnel. It was still firmly fastened to the remaining tusk. Samuel and Dick got down on the ground while the half-inflated balloon hovered above the carcass of the elephant.

"What a splendid beast," cried Kennedy. "What an enormous mass he is. I have never, even in India, seen such a fine fellow."

"That is not so surprising, my dear Dick. The elephants of Central Africa are the biggest naturally. They have been hunted so much in the neighborhood of the Cape by the Andersons and the Cummings, that they have migrated towards the equator, where we shall frequently meet them in large numbers."

"In the meantime," said Joe, "I hope we shall have a taste of this fellow. I will pledge myself to provide you a savory meal at this gentleman's expense. Mr. Kennedy can go hunting for an hour or two; Mr. Samuel can inspect and overhaul the 'Victoria,' and I will play the cook."

"That is well arranged," replied the doctor. "So each to his occupation."

"Well, I shall take the two hours' liberty that Joe has been so kind as to give me," said Kennedy.

"By all means, my friend, but don't be rash. Do not go too far."

"You may be easy on that score," said Dick; and, armed with his rifle, he plunged into the wood.

Then Joe set about his avocations. First, he made a hole in the ground about two feet deep, which he filled with the dead branches of trees which strewed the ground in consequence of the passages forced through the woods by the elephants, traces of which were clearly seen. The hole filled up, he thrust in at the top a log about two feet long, and set fire to it.

He then turned to the elephant, which had fallen only about fifty yards from the wood, and dexterously cut off the trunk, which measured nearly two feet wide at the head. He chose the most delicate portions, and added one of the sponge-like feet. These are considered the tid-bits of the animal, as is the buffalo-hump, the paws of the bear, or the boar's head.