78 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



with them. The troop consisted in all of about ten, 

 but there were only three full-grown cows in the troop; 

 each of these three, unluckily, went off in different di- 

 rections, I rode within twenty yards of the best, and, 

 halting, put two balls close behind her shoulder, and, 

 calling to Martin to finish her, galloped after the sec- 

 ond best. I soon got a view of her, and in three min- 

 utes had turned her head toward camp, and presently 

 rolled her over with about six shots. Martin and the 

 Bushman not appearing when two hours had elapsed, 

 I rode to camp, where, to my astonishment, I found 

 my servant, who had actually lost my elephant through 

 the most inexcusable want of pluck. I was very much 

 annoyed, and regretted having attacked the troop at all. 



At dawn of day MoUyeon and I walked to the fount- 

 ain to seek for elephants' spoor. A troop of cows, sev- 

 eral small bulls, and two well-grown bulls, had drunk 

 during the night, besides an immense number of rhi- 

 noceroses, perhaps twenty. I made a hasty breakfast, 

 and then took up the spoor of the two best bulls, with 

 one after-rider. The spoor led nearly southeast. Aft- 

 er following it for about six miles, we found ourselves 

 in an elevated part of the forest, which commanded a 

 fine view of the mountains to the east, and here Mol- 

 lyee climbed to the summit of a sandal-wood tree to 

 try if he could see the elephants. He could not see 

 those we were spooring ; but he saw three other bull 

 elephants, about three parts grown, feeding slowly 

 along, steering about north ; after a short and danger- 

 ous conflict, I slew the best with five bullets. 



We then followed up the spoor of one of our first ele- 

 phants, which had now taken a northerly course. Aft- 

 er following it up very sharply for about five miles 

 through very open CDuntry, we reached some denso 



