252 AFRICAN GAME TRAILS 



bulk of a charging bull elephant, the matted mass of t 



creepers snapping like packthread before his rush. He was 



so close that he could have touched me with his trunk. 



1 leaped to one side and dodged behind a tree trunk, 



opening the rifle, throwing out the empty shells, and slipping 



in two cartridges. Meanwhile Cuninghame fired right and 



.it the same time throwing himself into the bushes on 



the other side. Both his bullets went home, and the bull 



,^ed short in his charge, wheeled, and immediately 



>peared in the thick cover. We ran forward, but the 



t had closed over his wake. We heard him trumpet 



shrilly, and then all sounds ceased. 



The 'Ndorobo, who had quite properly disappeared 

 when this second bull charged, now went forward and soon 

 returned with the report that he had fled at speed, but was 

 evidently hard hit, as there was much blood on the spoor. 

 If we had been only after ivory we should have followed 

 him at once; but there was no telling how long a chase he 

 might lead us; and as we desired to save the skin of the 

 dead elephant entire, there was no time whatever to spare. 

 It is a formidable task, occupying many days, to preserve 

 an elephant for mounting in a museum, and if the skin is 

 to be properly saved, it must be taken off without an hour's 



^mnecessary delay. 



>o back we turned to where the dead tusker lay, and I 

 felt proud indeed as I stood by the immense bulk of the 

 slain monster and put my hand on the ivory. The tusks 

 weighed a hundred and thirty pounds the pair. There 

 was the usual scene of joyful excitement among the gun- 



Jnjsrtfpti Hud m-uu J- 



. )H and among the 

 wild bush people 



