io6 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



round in a circle, and I saw the four that still 

 remained (for, besides the one I had killed, two more 

 were down) coming along in single file, at the long, 

 quick half run, half walk, into which these animals 

 settle after their first rush, I at once ran obliquely 

 towards them ; but, before I could get near, one 

 more first lagged behind, and then fell heavily to the 

 ground, so that there were but three remaining, 

 W., being blown, had been left behind ; but most 

 of the Kafirs were still to the fore, firing away as 

 fast as they could load, from both sides. It was 

 astonishing what bad shooting they made ; their 

 bullets kept continually striking up the ground all 

 round the elephants, sometimes in front of their 

 trunks, sometimes behind them, and ever and anon 

 one would come whistling high overhead. It was 

 in vain that I shouted to them to leave off firing and 

 let me shoot ; their blood was up, and blaze away 

 they would. 



Just as I was getting well up alongside, the 

 elephants crossed a little gully, and entered a small 

 patch of scrubby bush, on the slope of the hill beyond, 

 in the shelter of which they at once stopped and faced 

 about, giving me a splendid chance. I had just 

 emptied both my guns, hitting one animal full in 

 the chest, and another, that was standing broadside 

 to me, in the shoulder, when loud lamentations and 

 cries of " Mai-ai ! " " Mai mamo ! " burst from my 

 Kafir followers close behind. At the same time my 

 two gun-carriers, throwing down their guns, ran 

 backwards, clapping their hands, and shouting like 

 the rest. Turning hastily round, I saw a Kafir 

 stretched upon the earth, his companions sitting round 

 him, wailing and clapping their hands, and at once 

 comprehended what had occurred. The poor fellow 



