He had thrown away his bow--his axe too--to run the more nimbly.

But neither would have been of any avail against such an antagonist.

He carried nothing but his sheep-skin kaross.

That had encumbered him in his flight; but he had held on to it for a purpose.
His purpose was soon displayed.
He stood until the extended trunk was within three feet of his face; and then, flinging his kaross so that it should fall over the long cylinder, he sprang nimbly to one side, and started to run back.
He would, no doubt, have succeeded in passing to the elephant's rear, and thus have escaped; but as the kaross fell upon the great trunk it was seized in the latter, and swept suddenly around.

Unfortunately Swartboy's legs had not yet cleared the circle--the kaross lapped around them--and the Bushman was thrown sprawling upon the plain.
In a moment the active Swartboy recovered his feet, and was about to make off in a new direction.