ELEPHANTS IN "THE OPEN." 193 



the heavy rifle that I should have used had I expected 

 elephants ; whilst Monyosi had his old ship's musket. 



Suddenly there was a great cracking in the bush, and 

 we both jumped on our feet; the branches seemed all 

 alive, shaking and cracking as though a hurricane were 

 blowing. 



We eagerly watched for an explanation, although, both 

 being pretty well up to " sign," we guessed that the dis- 

 turbance was caused by elephants. 



At about fifty yards from us the first giant broke cover; 

 he came out very quickly, gave a grumble, aud ran down 

 to the water, giving a shrill scream as he reached it. This 

 was apparently a signal to others that all was right, as 

 they came out of the bush immediately : at least forty 

 elephants were in "the open" at one time; some were 

 large fellows, whilst others were only babies by com- 

 parison. Two or three of them, on coming to the water, 

 lay down in the mud and rolled, whilst a big bull-elephant 

 sent the water from his trunk in streams over his body. 



We watched them a minute or so, to see what they 

 would do, when Monyosi by accident let go his dog, he 

 having with difficulty held him tight since the appearance 

 of the herd. The cur immediately ran down and barked 

 at the elephants, whereupon they turned round and 

 rushed towards the bush which they had just left. I 

 aimed at a large bull, taking the spot between the eye and 

 the ear as my target : I heard the bullet strike, and then 

 gave him a second shot on the shoulder. The distance was 

 about seventy yards, and my gun a four teen-bore. This 

 latter circumstance was of course a great drawback, still, 



o 



