XIII A SOJOURN AT RESHIAT AND KERE 297 



US, one, however (probably the first I had fired at), going oft" 

 alone slowly, evidently very hard hit, in the opposite direction. 

 Running across with my magazine rifle in m}' hands, I was 

 able — though not in time to cut them off — to get in two or 

 three shots at the wounded ones, with the result that another 

 turned out and walked back across the flat. 



By this time the main body had entered the swamp, but I 

 noticed the bull with the longest tusks of all, and which I was 

 particularly anxious to kill, behind, and getting along apparently 

 with difficulty. I had the .303 still in my hands, and as he 

 stood for a moment on the edge, before following the rest into 

 the swamp, I had a fine chance, and aimed for his temple in 

 hopes of dropping him. But the confounded rifle had got on 

 half-cock in the mysterious way it has the knack of doing at 

 the most inopportune moments, and by the time I had got 

 hold of the i o-bore the elephant was off after the others ; 

 however, I gave him a couple of stern shots and he came to a 

 standstill. I could see he was done, so watched him. Another, 

 that looked like a cow, waited a little for him, but then went on, 

 and I did not interfere with it. I had left Smiler behind to 

 give me warning should the wounded ones come back. After 

 watching the huge fellow standing up to his belly in the swamp 

 a minute or two, and being satisfied that he was done, I 

 turned to go and look after the others, but, just as I started, 

 he made an effort to move, and then fell over on his side in 

 the water, one tusk and half his body, but very little of his 

 head, visible. 



Leaving him now with confidence that he was safe, I went 

 out to where Smiler was on guard. I found that he had heard 

 rumblings only a short way ahead in the direction the first 

 wounded bull had taken. I climbed a high ant-heap to get a 

 view, and soon made him out lying down but with his head up. 

 I felt sure he could not get away, but was considering whether 

 to go and give him a shot in the brain, when I saw several 

 other elephants a good way ahead. Some four or five were 



