VII 



ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN BUSH 127 



fectly still, but as I looked he stretched out his trunk, 

 and breaking off the end of some small branches con- 

 veyed them to his mouth, and commenced quietly 

 chewing them. After peering carefully round with- 

 out seeing any more elephants, I sent a Kafir to let 

 my friends know. He had scarcely left me when 

 three shots fell to my right, and before I could raise 

 the gun to my shoulder, the huge beast before me 

 wheeled round and was off. A hare could not have 

 turned and got under way more expeditiously, or 

 more silently. But though his quickness saved him 

 from a broadside shot, I was in time to give him a 

 four-ounce ball in the hip, and calling on my favourite 

 Bushman, " Hartebeest," to run on the spoor, we 

 were soon hard on his tracks. He did not run 

 straight, but doubled about in the bush, and the soil 

 being soft and sandy the Bushman was enabled to run 

 at full speed, I myself, being in excellent condition, 

 keeping close to his heels. We had run for perhaps 

 a mile or so, when a perfect fusillade opened not far 

 to our right, and I was thinking of leaving the spoor 

 and cutting across in the direction of the shots, 

 making sure my companions were engaged with the 

 troop, when the Bushman suddenly exclaimed, 

 " Nansia ! Nansia ! " (There he is) and I just caught 

 a glimpse of my own elephant standing with his ears 

 raised, listening intently. He . must have been 

 bothered by the shots that had just been fired, and 

 perhaps had got somebody's wind, for at this moment 

 he turned and came crashing down in my direction. 

 Seizing my gun, I gave him a good shot right in the 

 shoulder as he passed, within ten yards I verily believe 

 of where I stood ; upon which he pulled up imme- 

 diately, and facing round in our direction, raised his 

 trunk and ears, and gave vent to two or three short 



