HUNTING THE KLKPll AM. _ -14 



The elephant very soon evinced signs of distress, and ceased t" 

 make away- from us. Taking up positions in the densest parts of 

 the cover, he caught up the red dust with his trunk, and throwing 

 it over his head and back, endeavored to conceal himself in a 

 cloud. This was a fine opportunity to pour in my deadly shafts, 

 and I took care to avail myself of it. When he had received 

 about twelve shots, he walked slowly forward in a dying state, 

 the blood streaming from his trunk. I rode close up to him, arid 

 gave him a sharp right ami left from the saddle: he turned and 

 walked a few yards, then suddenly came down with tremendous 

 violence on his vast stern, pitching his head and trunk aloft to a 

 prodigious height, and, falling heavily over on his side, expired. 

 This was an extremely large and handsome elephant, decidedly 

 the finest bull I had shot this year. Afraid of taking cold or 

 rheumatism, for I was in a most profuse perspiration, I hastened 

 back to my fire-side, having first secured all the dogs in their 

 couples. Here I divested myself of my leather trowsers, shooting- 

 belt, and veldt-schoens, and, stretched on my karcss, I took tea, 

 and wondered at the facility with which I had captured thir 

 mighty elephant. 



Feeling fatigued, I intended to lie down and rest till morning. 

 Just, however, as I was arranging rny saddles for a pillow, 1 be- 

 held another first-rate old bull elephant advancing up the vlry 

 from the south. I at once resolved that ke, too, should run the 

 gauntlet with the dogs. In immense haste, tnerefore, I once more 

 pulled on my old leathers, and buckled en my shooting-belt, and 

 ran down into the rank long grass beside the fountain to meet h.m, 

 armed with the large two-grooved rifle, having directed Caiey 

 and Piet to come slowly up with the dogs and my horse and gun 

 as soon as they were ready. The elephant came on, and stocd 

 drinking within thirty yards of me. When I saw Carey coming 

 on with the dogs and steed, I fired, but my rifle hung fire. The 

 shot, however, gave the dogs good courage, and they fought well 

 The elephant took away at a rapid p ce toward the other foun- 

 tain where the Bechuanas lay, and at first led me through very 

 bad wait-a-bit thorn cover, which once or twice nearly swept me 



