Soldiering and Sport in Uganda 



worked out the intentions of our friend a little too 

 accurately for my liking. It was the first time I had 

 seen a wild elephant, and I assure you it is a little 

 distracting to the nerves. I was therefore a little 

 backward in coming forward, although no advance 

 on our part was necessary, as the elephant passed 

 within twenty yards of our position. 



Well, it was for me to fire first, which I did. 

 At twenty yards there is no missing a target as big 

 as an elephant's heart. Then my friend fired — a little 

 bit high, though. I was about to fire again, when 

 to my horror my rifle jammed. I locked at the 

 elephant, who had halted. He then turned about in 

 a very deliberate manner. I made sure he was 

 about to charge. I looked round for my orderly's 

 rifle, but he had gone to ground, as also the hundreds 

 of natives who had followed us. Working my bolt 

 rapidly, I managed after what seemed ages to me to 

 get my empty case out, and to insert a second 

 cartridge. My friend in the meantime had fired a 

 couple of times more. The elephant was about 

 done. I put in another heart shot. He collapsed 

 most gracefully with his head pillowed on an 

 ant-heap, and his massive tusks pointing heaven- 

 wards. 



It seemed ridiculous that a small bullet could 

 wreck such a massive monster. All the Uoranda 

 natives now clustered round, full of joy, insisting on 

 shaking hands with us, and babbling like monkeys, 

 crowding all over the now prostrate beast. The 

 Commissioner also came tearing up, very much out 



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