XVII A DAY'S REST 371 



us, and was breaking into a run when Wood pulled 

 in his horse, and with a bullet from his eight-to-the- 

 pound rifle bowled her over in her tracks. He 

 afterwards shot another, and I also killed two. There 

 were only eight of them — a tuskless cow, and seven 

 others not full grown. Elephants are, however, now 

 so scarce, that one cannot afford to leave even 

 smallish ones alone. Directly Wood fired, they all 

 scattered, and as the bush was rather thick, we could 

 not drive them together again. Just as the last fell 

 dead, Messrs. Clarkson and Cross came galloping up, 

 and our Kafirs followed soon after, all having heard 

 and been guided by our shots. Finding water in a 

 valley close to the dead beasts, and having our 

 blankets and other traps with us, we camped on the 

 spot, and spent the following day, Sunday, in idleness, 

 whilst our Kafirs were engaged in chopping out the 

 tusks. 



