DIFFICULTIES OF TRACKING 305 



elephant that day. The rain about this time came down in 

 torrents, and in spite of a waterproof cape, so heavy was the 

 downfall that it was with the greatest difficulty that I could 

 keep my cartridges dry. On one or two occasions I almost 

 despaired of ever finding the tracks, as they were often nearly 

 obliterated by the rain. The men with me, however, who 

 were, as I have already said, by no means experienced 

 trackers, stuck to it, stimulated by my promises of plenty of 

 " sungwe " (reward money), and assisted by my little know- 

 ledge of tracking, by making now and again wide casts, 

 always succeeded in striking the trail again. We were at last 

 rewarded by hearing the snapping of a bamboo a few yards 

 ahead. I then tried the wind by striking a match, and blow- 

 ing it out ; the direction taken by the smoke indicated that 

 the wind was fortunately in our favour. Another 30 yards 

 brought me in sight of the tusker, who was standing on the 

 edge of a steep, rocky piece of ground, feeding on some young 

 bamboos. I crept up with the 8-bore to within about twenty- 

 five paces, having just instructed one of the trackers to 

 be in readiness with the 12 smooth-bore should I require 

 it. Fixing on a small bamboo clump in my immediate rear, 

 behind which I could retreat after firing, I walked up to the 

 elephant and fired when about fifteen paces off for the 

 shoulder-shot, after which I immediately retreated under 

 cover of the smoke, which hung in the damp air, to the 

 bamboo clump fixed upon. The elephant on receiving the 

 shot stood perfectly still for a few seconds, and then, with a 

 shrill scream of pain and rage, charged up and passed within 

 six feet of the flimsy bamboo clump behind which I had 

 taken up my position. I had in the meantime succeeded in 

 getting in another cartridge, and as the elephant passed me 

 at a quick shuffle I gave it a right and left immediately 

 behind the shoulder which caused it to stumble slightly. The 

 huge beast on receiving the shots turned round and faced me 

 as if about to charge, but after regarding me for a few seconds 

 in an undecided manner it wheeled round and made off again. 

 My two companions at this critical moment had, on seeing 

 the huge beast loom up alongside the bamboo clump, thought 

 discretion the better part of valour and ascended trees. 



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