344 THROUGH UNKNOWN ‘AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
the open country toward my quarry. A light breeze was 
blowing toward the elephant from the spot where we had 
first seen him, so that I was obliged to describe a large 
circle before venturing to approach: the tree. But the 
elephant had already scented some danger from afar. 
Several times Aden and I dropped flat on our bellies as 
we saw the enormous animal raise his trunk and _ sniff 
the air. 
The excitement grew intense as we drew nearer and 
mearer to the tree. The Veclephant Seemed toyloomeup 
larger and larger, and the tusks appeared longer as we 
came, within shooting distance. At last we found our- 
selves behind the trunk of the tree, without the beast 
having seen us. But he was not to be trifled with. The 
elephant did not show the slightest intention of running 
away, but, on the contrary, kept uttering low, mad, guttural 
sounds, and stamping about as he scented the boys whom 
I had left behind. My heart beat loudly as I put the rifle 
to my shoulder, not knowing but that the elephant would 
charge directly at me the instant I fired, and being at the 
same time almost feverish in my anxiety to bag the noble 
beast, —a finer specimen of its kind than I had ever seen, 
or should be likely to meet with again. 
At last I steadied myself to fire, and the next instant a 
horrible feeling of disappointment took possession of me. 
I had missed a vital spot in the elephant’s head. The 
animal took a few steps forward and then backward, un- 
able to make out the position of his enemies. Delighted 
that I still had a chance, I took another long steady aim, 
and fired; and as the report of my rifle rang out I heard 
Aden give a suppressed “ Hurrah!” Down went the huge 
beast on his knees, and then gently rolled over on his side. 
I felt like throwing my hat into the air from joy; but I had 
known “dead” elephants to get on their feet again, so I| 
