VI MAN PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES 115 



elephant's back and head coming towards us. I at 

 once understood that the shouting came from one of 

 our Kafirs, who was trying to turn the elephant and 

 drive him back towards W. or one of our hunters 

 who carried a gun. Catching up a handful of sand, 

 and throwing it into the air, to see how the wind was, 

 I placed myself in such a position that the elephant, 

 if he held the same course, would have to pass close 

 by me above the wind, thereby offering me a splendid 

 broadside shot. But fhomme propose^ et Dieu dispose ; 

 for when he was only about thirty yards off, coming 

 steadily along at a quick walk, and just as I saw that 

 he was followed by four quite small calves, the Kafir 

 who was running him about, and who knew nothing 

 of my position, again shouted a little to my right, on 

 which he turned from his course and came straight 

 down towards where we stood. Seeing this, I shouted 

 as loud as I could, hoping he would turn again and still 

 offer me a broadside shot ; but I suppose he was tired 

 of being trotted about in the hot sun, and thought it 

 time to expostulate ; for, instead of swerving, he 

 raised his head, spread his huge ears, and came on 

 straight towards us. Feeling sure that he would 

 charge directly he made us out, I just waited till his 

 head came through a bush close in front, and then 

 fired into his chest, bringing him to his knees. He 

 was up again in an instant, anci crashed away 

 through the bushes to my left, whilst the four calves 

 came straight on, and ran close past us on my right. 

 Seizing my second gun from the hands of Balamoya — 

 for the first time since it had snapped the cap at the 

 commencement of the hunt — I threaded my way 

 through the jungle so as to intercept him ; and as 

 he was badly wounded and had settled into a slow 

 walk, I easily succeeded, and running a little ahead, 



