2i6 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



shoulder on the other side, for she fell as if struck 

 by lightning, and never rose again. 



There were now two down and three wounded. 

 The young bull I had just shot was standing not far 

 off", and even as I turned to look at him he lurched 

 backwards, throwing his trunk high in the air, and 

 then fell on his side, and I knew his race was run. 

 The larger bull and the wounded cow had both 

 separated from the herd, but whereas the latter was 

 following on the tracks of her companions, the 

 former was walking slowly off by himself at right 

 angles. On my getting up near him he turned, and 

 raising his ears, stared at me, and I thought he meant 

 to charge, but he was probably too far gone, poor 

 brute. As he again turned I got a splendid chance 

 at his shoulder, and gave him a fatal shot through 

 the top of the heart, on receiving which he walked 

 steadily forwards, and then fell with a crash on his 

 broadside, his legs seeming to be swept from under 

 him. The other elephants were by this time all out 

 of sight, except the wounded cow, who was going 

 off^ at a good pace in the distance. When I had got 

 within a couple of hundred yards of her she was 

 headed by some of my Kafirs, and, on their shouting, 

 turned, and came walking back towards me. I stood 

 where I was, just by an apology for a bush, thinking 

 she would pass on one side or the other and give 

 me a broadside shot, but on she came, nearer and 

 nearer, till it was evident that she was heading 

 exactly for where I was standing. When she was 

 within forty yards Hellhound lost heart, and either 

 ran or moved off^ backwards, and, on seeing him stir, 

 the elephant, who, so long as we remained still, had 

 not observed us, immediately raised her ears, and 

 came on with uplifted trunk, screaming loudly. 



