KEMP'S STORY. 149 



you to come within a quarter of a mile of them without 

 charging you. I have been very careful how I approached 

 elephants, ever since my Kaffir was killed by them last 

 year, near the Um Volozie." Another story was here 

 called for, and Kemp told us the following : Whilst up the 

 country shooting, he came on the fresh spoor of a very large 

 bull-elephant : the traces were quite fresh, the game having 

 passed early that morning. His Kaffir, who was named 

 Mabili, was a capital shot, very cool when near large 

 and dangerous game, and brave as a lion. This man was 

 walking beside the Dutchman, who rode a small pony. 



It had been arranged between these two, that Mabili 

 was to be entitled to half the game if he put the first 

 bullet into the elephant. This was to give him a greater 

 interest in the hunting, and make him keep a sharp look- 

 out. If, however, he only assisted at the death of an 

 elephant, he was to receive whatever the Boer thought 

 that he deserved. 



They followed the spoor of the elephant through an 

 open park-like country, a few scattered bushes and trees 

 being the only cover. 



They had proceeded about four miles on the traces, 

 when the elephant was seen standing under a large tree. 

 I will describe the scene as nearly in the Dutchman's 

 manner as I can remember : 



" He swung his trunk a little every now and then, or I 

 could not have distinguished him from a large rock, he 

 stood so still. We made our plan immediately. I was to 

 leave my horse where we were, and stalk with my Kaffir up 

 to the elephant, for he seemed so quiet that I had no fear 



