X EXCURSIONS FROM EL BOGOI 229 



suggesting- fabulous bulk, the while grimacing notes of admira- 

 tion to further accentuate his pantomimic description of the 

 enormous size of their tusks according to his opinion. I 

 watched for some time. They seemed to have ceased feeding. 

 Five moved on ahead ; another was some way off apart, the 

 other two remained standing quite near our koppie. 



While we sat on the top, the wind, though light, kept 

 steadily in our faces ; but on descending, for the purpose of 

 approaching these last two elephants, it became puffy and 

 shifty, and, as I advanced through the dense cover, I felt 

 almost certain it would betray me. Oh for a good stiff 

 breeze ! However, I decided to go on and chance it, and 

 picking my way with every caution, I got near enough to see 

 them through the narrow opening in the bush left by the path 

 which I was following. One mighty fellow stood among thick 

 scrub, head on to me, the other was behind him. I approached 

 close, but could not possibly get a shot. I wanted to go back 

 and try from another direction, but he seemed to see me and I 

 feared if I moved he would go — or come. In this suspense I 

 stood for a considerable time, face to face with the great beast. 

 He was a huge brute, with magnificent long and thick tusks, 

 which I guessed to weigh not less than 90 lbs. apiece. My 

 heart sank as I felt the wind lull and veer, and then a gentle 

 breath on my back. I knew it was all up, as I could not 

 possibly shoot him in his present position, but trusted to a 

 possible chance as he turned. Up went his trunk and round 

 he swung and was off at a run in a moment. I fired a snap- 

 shot, but could not sec to aim for the thick cover. Nor were 

 there any traces of blood on the spoor. We followed their 

 windings for hours in this vast stronghold, but at last had to 

 give it up, as they had turned down wind in the afternoon. I 

 returned to camp heavy at heart. It was a truly heart-break- 

 ing disappointment that, of the first big bulls I had seen this 

 trip, I had failed to get even one. One must bear .such, though, 

 in a hunter's life ; and the only thing I could hope, as I had 



