CHAPTER IX. 



THE ELEPHANT WITH THE ENORMOUS TUSK. 



After a few weeks had elapsed since my week end 

 on Lake Albert I decided to go off on a hunting 

 expedition. Ten days' leave of absence did not 

 give me much time, but it was better than nothing. 

 Besides, I could send my "safari" a day's journey 

 on ahead, and it is not every day you can watch 

 herds of elephant roaming in their wild state. 



Accordingly half my boys, with a score of porters 

 under an escort in charge of my orderly, started 

 for Masindi from my headquarters at Hoima, in 

 Northern Uganda. I was greatly relieved to see 

 them at last under way, and to hear their mono- 

 tonous, humdrum singing, intermingled with loud, 

 shrill "coo-eys," growing fainter in the distance. 



While superintending the packing I had caught 

 a glimpse through the kitchen-door of my head- 

 boy, a Swahili, swallowing half a bottleful of my 

 Worcester sauce. Noiselessly I crept up to him; 

 the result was a tableau. After that he sulked. 



The following morning I jumped on my bicycle 

 at daybreak, and was soon skimming along the road 

 after them, wondering how many tusks I should 

 bring back on my return. I found it quite cold 



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