SPORT IN MOZAMBIQUE 



younger male and a big female without tusks. I 

 approach within a distance of ten yards, with my 

 certus-rifle in my hand. As the animal is continually 

 moving its head, and as I cannot see the most vital 

 spots of its body, I resolve to fire when it presents 

 the former. At this moment the wind shifts, and the 

 animal scenting me moves to the left and flees. I 

 rapidly move a few paces to the right and fire behind 

 the shoulder ; but my bullet, although it has hit, 

 does not stop him. It has only just touched the top 

 of the lung. 



I prepare to fire again but have not time, as I am 

 brought face to face with the female, who has turned 

 round at the shot, with her trunk rolled up, her ears 

 cocked, barring the way and ready to charge. 



She is superb as she thus stands, but I have some- 

 thing else to do than to admire her. In haste I des- 

 patch a bullet at her chest which luckily makes her 

 change sides. All this has happened in a few seconds ; 

 soon the grey giants have vanished in the jungle, 

 and all that can be heard of them are their trumpetings 

 as they flee. For some time we follow the bloody 

 trail which the wounded bull has left behind him ; 

 but as the sun is low and we are grievously tormented 

 by thirst, we decide to go and drink at the Pungwe\ 

 Scarcely have we started than we hear, close to us, 

 elephants screaming. I run and see a troop of eleven 

 head, three young bulls with small tusks, and five 

 females, of which three are accompanied by calves. 



(100) 



