126 SAFARI 



I ran. Sometimes we got our picture under such 

 circumstances and then stopped the elephants by 

 yelhng and waving our hands. This time I was too 

 close and the elephant gaining too fast. I swung 

 about and tried to dodge. It was the only thing I 

 could do to save my life. But my strategy was 

 futile. The bull came right on for me. Like sheep, 

 the other seven elephants tore after him. To my 

 surprise there were about a dozen more behind 

 these seven which we hadn't seen. Elephants 

 seemed everywhere and they were all headed for us. 



Osa was scared stiff but she kept turning the crank. 

 She knew she was getting a superb picture and there 

 was nothing she could do about me yet. 



By the time I reached the camera the elephants 

 were only a few feet behind. Osa's gun bearer had 

 been at her elbow every instant. Now with one 

 quick motion she took her rifle from him and fired. 

 It was an easy shot so far as a target went. Her 

 target was as big as a bam. But it took a lot of 

 nerve to stand there and shoot under the circimi- 

 stances — shoot and hit a fatal spot. 



Her shot didn't kill the elephant at once but it 

 diverted him from his murderous course. He nearly 

 knocked the camera down when he passed it. He 

 fell a little further on. The herd hesitated for a 

 moment. Then all turned and ran. 



Another time we were forced to shoot because the 



