THE MONSTER TUSKER 141 



herd of elephants. Everything to right and left bears 

 the mark of their ponderous weight and strength, and 

 inspires me with a feeling of decided respect for the 

 noble game. Until it got a little lighter it was terrible 

 walking. Every now and then one of us would trip 

 up in one of the mighty tracks and go spluttering 

 forwards in a terrible effort of self-preservation which 

 ended in an uncomfortable damp roll in the muddy 

 spoor. 



About seven o'clock we came on the tracks of bears 

 in among some rough, low hills, covered with small 

 gray rocks that rose every here and there in the jungle. 

 But Bruin was quite safe ; we were bent on far higher 

 and better game. No sight of an elephant as yet, 

 though the tracks and other signals of their not having 

 long passed over the very same ground we were 

 standing on were numerous enough. It was intensely 

 exciting work ; at any moment our tired hot eyes might 

 be greeted with the sight of a long piece of that shining 

 ivory, that trophy which I had yet to win to complete 

 my collection. Oh, how anxiously I peered ahead, as 

 I crawled cautiously on, keeping steady to one tre- 

 mendous track. Hamilton, with Francis close behind 

 him, was a little to my left and about 10 yards 

 behind me, he having most generously given me the 

 first chance. 



This kind of work went on for about an hour, and 

 I was, to tell the truth, beginning to get a little careless, 

 when I was suddenly brought to a standstill by finding 

 myself within 10 yards of the tail of an elephant. I 

 squatted instantly, and made a little chirping noise that 

 attracted Hamilton's attention. He squatted too, and 

 made the men behind do the same. When all was 

 still, I stretched behind me and had my second gun 

 pushed into my hand by the native whom I had 



