With Flashlight and Rifle -* 



the shady tops of some vangueria-bushes. As though 

 spell-bound, we remained where we stood, breathless. 

 \Ye knew that the elephants would have been put on 

 their guard by the noise. Twenty more paces to the 

 left, and we must be able to see over the next bit of 

 open ground. In front of me, three or four yards ahead, 

 is the trunk of a dead tree. An active native glides 

 ahead to it with me behind him, and next moment makes 

 a sign to me that the elephants are in front. Quick as 

 lightning he slips aside and lets me take his place, as I 

 can only see them from this spot. 



There they are, sure enough, a bull right in front of 

 me, with tusks, weighing 180 Ib. or 190 Ib. apiece, almost 

 crossing each other, and beside him another bull with 

 his back turned towards me. Unable to shoot them as 

 they stand, I slip down from the tree-trunk and try 

 cautiously to make a way for myself through the adjacent 

 bushes ; but there is a sudden crashing, and the elephants 

 are gone. Breaking away in different directions, they 

 come together soon, and for five hours we follow in their 

 track without seeing them again. Our pursuit of them 

 has this result only, that our legs were badly stung by 

 nettles and other such growths, often met with in these 

 shady spots. Again all our trouble went for nothing. 



On one occasion my companions came in for very 

 unfortunate experiences while we were in pursuit of a 

 big herd of elephants. Starting with only my most trust- 

 worthy followers, loaded only with ropes, axes, and other 

 light utensils, each man carrying burdens of only 6 Ib. 



200 



