Further Experiences with Elephant 



to have stopped altogether beneath a clump of 

 big shady trees. Branches were broken off and 

 half stripped of their foliage, and the grass and 

 weeds were trodden into a pulp. On second 

 thoughts it occurred to me that this spot was not 

 so very far away from where I had bagged my 

 elephant. The others might have heard the shot, 

 as there was practically no wind. I descried 

 both my remaining orderlies ringing round out- 

 side the trees towards home. 



This was the moment for master to show he 

 knew something, or for ever look a fool in their 

 eyes. I at once called them up, gave them the 

 "general idea," explained the "special idea," and 

 lastly let myself go on the " appreciation of the 

 situation." Of course the elephant had heard the 

 shot, to say nothing of the hubbub that ensued, 

 and so I informed my men that the animals had 

 in all probability cleared straight away, and if 

 they cared to look they would find their tracks 

 "somewhere over there," with a gesture of the 

 hand towards home. 



" Willahi ! " They rushed off, and in about 

 two minutes I heard them shouting that master 

 must be a sort of blooming wizard, for he was 

 correct. It's so easy, you know ! But they didn't 

 gather how it was done. 



Well, the tracks went on and on, and we fol- 

 lowed them till we got back in a line with the 

 camp about four miles away, and it was then 



259 



