Following the Tracks 



After inspecting the tracks I discovered that 

 at least one of the herd was of a fair size, and 

 decided to follow up the tracks. I accordingly 

 made my dispositions. I sent off three hunters 

 in advance. Although the elephants had six hours' 

 start of me, I hoped that my men might catch them 

 up, as at mid-day the herd would rest to take their 

 ease in the shade of the trees from the excessive 

 heat of the sun. 



That night I took my orderly and watched from 

 an ant-heap near to the shamba, in the slender hope 

 that the elephants might revisit the place. But it 

 was in vain, and so I turned in, ready to be up at 

 dawn to start immediately on receipt of news. 



As a matter of fact, it was about two hours 

 before daylight when my boy came into my tent to 

 announce the return of one of my native hunters. I 

 cross-questioned him, and found that the elephants 

 had been located about four hours away. 



Hastily scrambling into my clothes, I swallowed 

 a plate of buttered eggs and some tea, and started 

 in pursuit, followed by my orderly and a native 

 carrying some sandwiches. 4 ^ 



Only he who has experienced it can fully estimate 

 the joy of a morning of this sort. I felt as fit as a 

 fiddle, right on the track of my quarry, the whole 

 day before me, and the excitement of not knowing 

 what might eventually be the result. The air was 

 balmy and soft, the sunrise superb, the sky a mass 

 of gold, and the valleys full of mysterious shadows. 



It was intoxicating. 



237 



