CATCHING BUTTERFLIES 



clearing, followed by a second, a third, and a fourth. 

 By this time Ryan had conceded the prior claim of 

 the elephants to the place, and backed well into the 

 bush. When the first elephant got opposite him he 

 shot him. The second took very little notice, perhaps 

 he didn't hear or mind. So Ryan laid him low. 

 Number 3 also became an easy victim, but Number 4 

 was wise — he bolted. 



II 



When we were not very seriously occupied we had 

 side lines. Selous used to catch butterflies, whilst I 

 collected beetles. One day Outram, Selous and 

 myself were on duty protecting some native wood- 

 cutters outside the camp, as the Germans had been 

 busy and killed a few Indians. Whilst so occupied 

 I came across seven or eight of the most exquisitely- 

 coloured beetles I have ever seen, and at once 

 forgot my job and began to collect them. My 

 hope was to keep them inside my helmet until I got 

 back to camp, as I had nowhere else to put them. 

 Selous saw I had got something and quickly begged 

 a couple from me. We were both lost in admiration, 

 looking at a specimen, when a bullet whizzed between 

 our faces. This very quickly made us forget all about 

 the beetles. Outram was close by, and we all 



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