VI "THIRST WAS KILLING THEM" 93 



on scrambling up to the level ground beyond were 

 very much surprised and rejoiced to see the object of 

 our pursuit not a hundred yards ofF on his fore knees, 

 with his tusks resting on the ground ; and before we 

 could get up to him he rolled over on his side, never 

 to rise again. The bullet having entered just behind 

 the ribs and driven well forwards, must have divided 

 some of the large arteries just above the heart, for on 

 cutting out that organ the next morning we found it 

 had not been actually struck, as I had at first imagined. 

 Thus with two bullets had I laid low two splendid 

 elephant bulls, and I felt well satisfied with my success. 

 But it was time to think of other things. Our last 

 gourd of water had been emptied at about two 

 o'clock, and as the day had been excessively hot, 

 both the Kafirs and myself were much in need of a 

 drink, even before we came up with the elephants ; 

 and now, after our hard run, were suffering greatly 

 from thirst. However, from the appearance of the 

 deep holes dug in the sand of the river bed by 

 elephants, we imagined that we should find water 

 close to ; and on those of my boys coming up who, 

 as they carried the water calabashes and axes, had not 

 been able to keep up with us during the chase, I told 

 all the Kafirs to cut some meat from the trunk, that 

 we might take it with us, and then go and sleep near 

 the first water hole we came to. They, however, 

 protested that " thirsc was killing them," and that it 

 would be better to go and get water first (thinking 

 there was some close at hand), then fill the calabashes 

 and come back and sleep at the elephant ; so, not 

 thinking it would make much difference, I assented, 

 and we immediately started down the river. It was 

 now nearly dark, and we walked along the soft sandy 

 bed, expecting to find water in one of the holes at 



