148 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



to come back without doing anything, either 

 because the wind would not let me get up to them 

 with any chance of success, or because I could 

 not get at any that I thought worth shooting. 

 But twice I went for them. The first time, after 

 waiting about all day and trying in several directions, 

 I at last was lucky enough to get in and kill four 

 bulls, but poor ones the best only about 50 Ibs. 

 per tusk. There was no particular excitement 

 nothing much beyond the average, I mean ; though 

 there is, I truly tell you, always when you go for 

 them in earnest, and not merely pick off an odd 

 straggler when opportunity offers, a considerable 

 amount of risk about the business. I always feel 

 when I get back to camp, ' Safely through another 

 day.' The last time I got on terms with a herd, 

 after, as I say, many hard and fruitless days and 

 much forbearance, through a reluctance to shoot 

 anything not of good weight, I felt desperate, and 

 said to myself, ' Well, I mean to get some to-day, 

 anyhow; the best I can, of course, but I must go 

 for them and get all I can.' I went in, and I had 

 a hottish time. I killed ten all small ivory, I 

 regret to say but I wish some of those superior 

 sportsmen who call one ' butcher ' and ' slaughterer ' 

 and other pretty names when expressing (theoretical) 

 opinions on such work could have tried it for once. 

 I make no profession to be anything but a humble 

 hunter I rather dislike the title of 4 sportsman ' ; 

 I never know quite what is meant by it. But as 

 to butchery, one is just as likely to be made into 

 sausage-meat as the poor little elephants. Several 

 times was I nearly trampled on; and whether 

 accidentally or of malice prepense would make but 



