196 TALES OF A NOMAD. 



He was in a perfectly natural position, just as though 

 he had lain down and gone to sleep. 



His tusks measured five feet ten and a half inches 

 in length, and were of pure yellow ivory with a shade 

 of pink tinge in it. I have them now. As he lay there 

 it was impossible to measure him, but he must have 

 been at least ten feet in height, and his bulk was enor- 

 mous. 



I travelled by the light of the moon and reached camp 

 very late that night, getting severely scratched by bushes. 

 On my arrival, I stripped off everything, and searched 

 for leeches. They were all over me ; but who cares for 

 minor inconveniences of this kind when he is blessed by 

 the consciousness of having that day killed the record 

 bull elephant of the country ? I was thoroughly happy. 

 Had a Rothschild offered me all his money in exchange 

 for the satisfaction of killing my elephant, I really believe 

 I should have declined to accede to his proposition. 



Sound and sweet are the hunter's slumbers after a day 

 such as this ; and his very waking is joyous, for it is laden 

 with the consciousness of recent success. 



