Yesterday had been a tempestuous day; indeed, what between
buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephant, it had been very tempestuous. Having
realized this fact, I next bethought me of those magnificent tusks, and
instantly, early as it was, broke the tenth commandment. I coveted my
neighbours tusks, if an elephant could be said to be my neighbour _de
jure_, as certainly, so recently as the previous night, he had been _de
facto_--a much closer neighbour than I cared for, indeed. Now when you
covet your neighbour's goods, the best thing, if not the most moral
thing, to do is to enter his house as a strong man armed, and take them.
I was not a strong man, but having recovered my eight-bore I was
armed, and so was the other strong man--the elephant with the tusks.
Consequently I prepared for a struggle to the death. In other words, I
summoned my faithful retainers, and told them that I was now going to
follow those elephants to the edge of the world, if necessary. They
showed a certain bashfulness about the business, but they did not
gainsay me, because they dared not. Ever since I had prepared with all
due solemnity to execute the rebellious Gobo they had conceived a great
respect for me.
"So I went up to bid adieu to the old head man, whom I found alternately
contemplating the ruins of his kraal and, with the able assistance of
his last wife, thrashing the jealous lady who had slept in the mealie
hut, because she was, as he declared, the fount of all his sorrows.
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