I04 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



When we were abreast of them they got our whid, 

 and, jumping up, rushed close past the head of our 

 line, snorting vigorously. It was a family party, 

 consisting of a bull, a cow, and a full-grown calf ; 

 they passed so near us that I threw at them the thick 

 stick which I used for a ramrod, and overshot the 

 mark, it falling beyond them. 



Shortly after this incident, we lost the spoor in 

 some very hard, stony ground, and had some trouble 

 in recovering it, as the Kafirs, being exhausted with 

 the intense heat, and thinking we should not catch 

 the elephants, had lost heart and would not exert 

 themselves, hoping that we would give up the pursuit. 

 By dint of a little care and perseverance, however, we 

 succeeded, and after a time again entered upon a 

 more open country. To cut a long story short, I 

 suppose it must have been about two hours before 

 sundown when we came to a large tree, from which 

 the elephants had only just moved on. At first we 

 thought they must have got our wind and run, but 

 on examination we found they had only walked 

 quietly on. We put down the water calabashes and 

 axes, and the Kafirs took off their raw-hide sandals, 

 and then we again, quickly but cautiously, followed 

 on the spoor. It was perhaps five minutes later 

 when we at last sighted them, seven in number, and 

 all large, full-grown bulls. W. and I walked up 

 to within thirty yards or so, and fired almost 

 simultaneously ; he at one standing broadside, and 

 I at another facing me. Our Hottentot boy also 

 fired, and, as the animals turned, a volley was given 

 them by our Kafirs, about ten of whom carried guns. 

 Not an elephant, however, seemed any the worse, 

 and they went away at a great pace. Judging from 

 the lie of the land ahead that they would turn to the 



