204 LARGE GAME. CHAP. iv. 



ness and the immense size of the tusks of the last bull so 

 struck me, that I had not the heart to let such a chance pass 

 without trying to get them. He was, as I have said, the 

 last, and as he mounted the bank, and while his hind-quar- 

 ters were still concealed by it, I aimed at the shoulder 

 and fired. The smoke hung heavily, but through it I could 

 indistinctly see the commotion I had caused, while their 

 shrill trumpeting struck my ear. As it cleared I saw 

 that the herd was in full flight, all but the tuskless cow, 

 which was charging down, looking the picture of rage per- 

 sonified; and glad of a chance to punish one of these 

 brutes, through whose savage temper so much valuable 

 ivory is lost, I aimed at her trunk which was twisted 

 over her head and pulled the trigger. As the ball entered 

 that tender part of the body she squealed with pain, and 

 wheeling sharply, went after the others, and I jumping 

 down ran after them, loading as I did so. Just as I 

 reached the verge of the jungle I came upon the bull I 

 had fired at, and was just going to fire again, when he 

 moved a little and the native with me called out, 

 "Don't fire; it can't get away; its shoulder's broken; 

 let's go after the others ;" and seeing that such was the 

 case, we plunged into the jungle at full speed, regardless 

 of the thorns that pierced us, and followed the broad track 

 of the herd. This pace we continued until, having passed 

 out into the open, we reached an upper ford, where we 

 found that they had crossed back, and though we followed 

 them for the remainder of the day we never set eyes on 

 them again ; and as we saw from passing their downward 

 spoor that they were making straight back from whence 

 they had come, we turned towards dusk, and reached the 



