V NDOROBO ELEPHANT-HUNTING 107 



short way from my temporary camp (which was then right 

 under the mountain, in a Httle open valley, the wide expanse 

 of scrub stretching away in all directions below) when we heard 

 the elephants. The breeze being happily favourable for once, 

 I got up close without much difficulty, and made out two or 

 three enormous bulls standing together. One faced me, 

 another, whose tusks (from the glimpse I got) seemed as good, 

 stood broadside on. By great good luck I could see the 

 vulnerable part of his ribs, just behind his shoulder, through a 

 little opening among the leaves, etc., and was able to get a 

 shot by kneeling. Following, as they disappeared instantly 

 after I fired, there was just a colour of blood (a very spot or 

 two only) ; and, though I felt positive my aim had been true, 

 I began to fear another failure. But, just after, he was heard 

 ahead, and a little way on we came up to him standing in a little 

 bare place. I gave him two more shots and he toppled over. 

 Rushing up, we cut off his tail, and I had just brushed past 

 his hind legs and pointed out my first shot (right over 

 the heart), when he got on to his legs again and we cleared 

 out of his way sharp. Getting the " cripple-stopper," I gave 

 him a couple more shots, but they were unnecessary ; for, 

 though so huge a beast takes some time to die from a tiny 

 pellet of a bullet, he could not move away from where he 

 stood, and, after swaying and tottering some time, he fell 

 over again with a great crash, fairly bounding up again on 

 to his stern, like a ship going down with its bows in the 

 air ; sitting up, as it were, for a moment, his huge head and 

 tusks aloft, before collapsing to rise no more. A truly gigantic 

 beast ! What a little pop-gun my rifle appeared to such 

 monsters. The skin of his back was like the bark of some 

 great tree : all hard, scaly lumps, as is that of a big old 

 crocodile. I measured him as accurately as I could and cop\' 

 the entry as follows :—" He measured fully 10 feet 8 or 9 

 inches high at shoulder by tape ; 14 feet long from root of 

 trunk to root of tail ; circumference of fore foot 5 feet; his body 



