142 ELEPHANT STEAKS. 



I was lying flat on the ground, and though I might 

 have fired at him, I could not have killed him, as I 

 should either have shot into the solid bone between 

 the base of the tusks, or else into the forehead; the lat- 

 ter would necessarily pass far above the brain at that 

 angle. I thought of waiting, in the hope that he 

 would turn, and offer a temple shot, but doubted 

 that would prove effectual from where I was. See- 

 ing there was but one thing for it, I jumped to my 

 feet. As I did so, the monster threw back his huge 

 ears, but ere he had time to move a limb the right 

 barrel of the gumtickler had penetrated his brain 

 through the forehead, and he fell to rise no more. 

 The remainder of the herd bolted at once, several of 

 them trumpeting loudly, accompanied by Moloka. I 

 gave chase, but from the rough nature of the ground 

 I saw it was useless. 



This was all very well. There was a fine pair of 

 tusks to be cut out and carried home, but it was 

 near sundown, and we were more than twenty miles 

 from home. Having had nothing to eat since 7 a.m. 

 but a single biscuit, I was uncommonly hungry. We 

 were soon at work with the axe cutting out the tusks, 

 and while we were thus engaged, the Ajawah, who 

 was almost frantic with delight, made a fire, and hav- 

 ing cut a choice bit from the trunk of the fallen ele- 

 phant, stuck it on a stick close over the fire to roast. 

 This bit, which, he said, was the best part of the ele- 

 phant, and consequently the part always given to the 

 chief when one of tliese animals is killed, I was in- 

 formed was for me. He then placed several more 



