A THRILLING CHARGE 211 



trophy is to be mounted entire. There were dozens 

 of measurements of every part of the body, enough 

 to make a dress for a woman, and then came the 

 skinning, a prodigious task that took all of the late 

 afternoon and evening. We investigated the po- 

 sition of an elephant's heart which Kermit Roose- 

 velt had said was up in the upper third or at the top 

 of the second third of the body, a spot which must 

 be reached by a shot directed through the point of 

 the ear as it lay back. As a matter of fact, an ele- 

 phant's heart lies against the brisket, about ten or 

 eleven inches from the bottom of the breast. A 

 broadside shot through the front leg at the elbow 

 would penetrate the heart. 



At nine o'clock, Christmas Eve, the tent arrived 

 and was soon put up in the jungle of high grass at 

 the middle of the little peninsula. A more African 

 scene can not be imagined. The porter's fires, over 

 each of which sticks spitted with elephant meat en 

 brochette were cooking, imparted a weird look to 

 the river jungle grass and spectral trees. 



At ten o'clock we had our dinner and at eleven 

 we put on our pajamas and with the camp-fire burn- 

 ing before the tent and the armed askaris pacing 

 back and forth, gave ourselves up to lazy talk, then 

 meditation and then sound sleep. 



It was a wonderful day one always to be re- 

 membered. 



The next day, Christmas, came without the usual 

 customs of Christmas morn. In the forenoon we 

 stuck with the bull elephant, getting its skin and 



