CH. x] EFFICIENCY OF RIFLES 2G3 



it would have been practically impossible to traverse 

 the thick and matted cover in which they had made 

 tlieir abode. 



We could not tell at what moment we might find 

 ourselves face to face with some big beast at such close 

 quarters as to insure a cliarge, and we moved in cautious 

 silence, our rifles in our hands. Rhinoceros were 

 especially plentiful, and we continually came across not 

 only their tracks, but the dusty wallows in which they 

 I'oUed, and where they came to deposit their dung. 

 The fresh sign of elepliant, however, distracted our 

 attention from the lesser game, and we followed the 

 big footprints eagerly, now losing the trail, now finding 

 it again. At last, near a clump of big trees, we caught 

 sight of three huge, dark bodies ahead of us. The wind 

 was right, and we stole toward them, Kermit leading 

 and 1 immediately beliind. Through the tangled 

 branches their shapes loomed in vague outline ; but 

 we saw that one had a pair of long tusks, and oin* 

 gun-bearers unanimously pronounced it a big bull, with 

 good ivory. A few more steps gave Kermit a chance 

 at its head, at about sixty yards, and with a bullet from 

 liis -405 Winchester he floored the mighty beast. It 

 rose, and we both fired in unison, bringing it down 

 again ; but as we came up it struggled to get on its 

 feet, roaring savagely, and once more we botli fired 

 together. This finislied it. \\^e were disappointed at 

 tinding that it was not a bull ; but it was a large cow, 

 with tusks over five feet long — a very unusual length 

 for a cow — one weighing twenty-five and the other 

 twenty-two pounds. 



Our experience had convinced us that both the 

 Winchester •405 and the Springfield -300 would do 



