VIII EXCURSIONS FROM EL BOGOI 189 



beyond. I stood in the path, facing across it but a httle 

 towards the left, in which direction the elephants I was watch- 

 ing were running ; and had just fired a snap-shot at one I got 

 a chance at, when, immediately, there was an ear-piercing, 

 screaming trumpet, of the shrillest pitch, close to me. It 

 sounded very angry, and I supposed it to be made by the 

 animal I had just wounded, and stood, still gazing in the same 

 direction and trying to make out, among the dust and bending 

 bushes, a mark for my second barrel, when I felt a clap on my 

 back, just under my right shoulder. Turning my head, I found 

 myself face to face with an elephant, its black head and gleam- 

 ing tusks just above me. It must have been running along 

 the path I stood in ; screamed on seeing me in its way ; and, 

 apparently, gave me a tap with its trunk to find out what I 

 was, before making hay or pulp of me : but when I turned my 

 head and looked it in the face, it seems to have become 

 suddenly disconcerted ; for, as I threw up my rifle (and myself 

 back, at the same moment), it sheered off, and, breaking 

 through the bush, tore away after the others. I was not hurt 

 at all, and that is why I conclude it was with its trunk, and 

 not its tusk, that it gave me the pat. 



We had not been able to follow up each elephant I hit at the 

 time. I had got into a hot corner, and had to make the most 

 of it while it lasted. But some we had seen fall, and others 

 we came upon dead while following up the herd. 



Late in the afternoon I killed three big bulls, well ; two of 

 which, together with a smaller one, lay, almost on top of each 

 other, in the mud, where we could hardly get to them without 

 being bogged ; while the third, which had been crossing the 

 stream, fell, to the second shot, just as it got on to the far 

 bank. By sundown we had seen twelve lying dead ; but I had 

 used all my cartridges. We had, however, not found the first 

 bull I had fired at, though I felt sure it must be dead some- 

 where near. I wanted to find this bull, as it had very hand- 

 some tusks, and we spread out to look through the part of the 



