V EFFECT OF FOUR-OUNCE BULLET 8i 



the steep side of the hill they had to slacken their 

 speed (elephants can only go very steadily up-hill, 

 but down, no matter how rough be the ground, they 

 run at a tremendous pace). 



At about 1 50 yards from the starting-place, the 

 one I had fired at as they stood fell dead, having been 

 shot through the heart, and I dashed past him after 

 the others. Luckily, they ran right on to the two 

 Kafir boys that I had sent up the hill on the right- 

 hand side of the kloof before firing, and on their 

 shouting lustily, immediately turned and came rushing 

 down again, carrying trees, bushes, stones, and every- 

 thing before them, right past me. As they went by 

 I gave one a shot somewhere about the shoulder ; but 

 the bush being so thick, it was little more than a 

 snap shot, and, although my first gun was loaded 

 again, I had no time for another. However, a four- 

 ounce round bullet, hardened with zinc and quick- 

 silver, is no trifle, even to such a mighty beast as an 

 African bull elephant, and immediately on getting it 

 he slackened his pace, and, not being able to keep up 

 with the rest, turned out and took along the side of 

 the hill, I did my best to keep up with him ; but, 

 although he now only went at a sort of long half 

 walk, half trot, 1 had to put my best foot foremost 

 to maintain my position in the thick bush, as an 

 elephant, though so large an animal, is a thing easily 

 lost sight of I was careful to keep under the wind, 

 as a wounded elephant is apt to make himself dis- 

 agreeable, and trusts more to his scent than his 

 eyesight in charging. Three several times did I 

 range alongside, and take the gun from my Kafir's 

 hands to fire ; but the bush was so thick that, though 

 at very close quarters, I could not get a chance, and 

 had to run on again, hoping the ground would get a 



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