ELEPHANTS 185 



though pathless is a misnomer, considering the use the 

 numerous game tracks, especially those of elephants, 

 were to us. 



Here we would cross a half-dried swamp, its bright 

 green surrounded by, indeed at times surrounding, big 

 trees, and reminding one of the " lawn " of an Irish 

 country house. Game was galore, but, save shooting 

 for meat, I could not delay the column. One would 

 see a roan spring out and, with horns laid back, race 

 away between the mighty trees ; or a herd of water- 

 buck would watch us intently before taking to flight. 

 Perhaps it was the little dikdik who scurried from his 

 form to halt a bit further on, with ears pricked, to 

 stare at us. 



One afternoon I was within ten yards of a small 

 khor when I heard my orderly snap his fingers — the 

 well-known signal — but till two enormous ears swung 

 forward just in front of me, I could not make out the 

 elephant who was standing screened by the foliage on 

 the other side of the watercourse. Before I could 

 change the soft-nosed cartridges in my .303 for solids, 

 he got suspicious, walked away, and I was unable to 

 catch him up. I was naturally disgusted with my 

 want of luck. As Tibsherani Eff. now came up with 

 the rest of the party, I went on with him. We had 

 not gone far before we saw a huge elephant at the end 

 of a clearing. I stalked up to it and fired, but it bolted 

 a short way. I followed and gave it a second shot, 

 and it joined the herd which now could be heard 

 making off. I sent men after it, as I could not wait 

 and was sure I had killed it, but if they found the 



