320 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chai>. 



the muddy margin of the swamp. Here the bush was dense 

 and leafy ; farther out into the swamp the trees seemed dead, 

 but no open water was visible, while farther back the cover was 

 in parts a little less continuous and varied here and there by 

 narrow grassy glades. We soon came upon fresh spoor on the 

 elephant paths — which cut up the thicket skirting the swamp, 

 and wound in and out, sometimes through mud, at others over 

 sandy soil. The footprints were of cows and calves, and there 

 appeared to be a large herd. I wanted bulls ; but, as our 

 informant in the garden had told us there were some of these 

 also, I went on in hopes of finding them. 



We now heard much splashing ahead, as of many elephants 

 tramping slowly through the marsh. They seemed to be moving 

 along in front of us, in the direction we were going. The 

 wind was most troublesome and perplexing, blowing sometimes 

 in our faces and again coming from behind, so that it was 

 difficult to decide how to act. Under the circumstances I 

 decided to push on and chance it. W^e soon overtook the rear- 

 guard, as wc could tell by the splashing opposite us ; and 

 shortly after saw a little lot of cows enter the path ahead of us, 

 coming up diagonally from the swamp. They must have got 

 our wind, for they were evidently aware of our presence ; but 

 they did not seem alarmed, and continued to saunter slowly 

 along in front of us, occasionally standing for a little. I could 

 only get fitful glimpses of them as the windings of the paths 

 allowed, but I saw enough to show me that they were all small 

 cows with comparatively light tusks. I was therefore not 

 anxious to shoot them ; but followed for some distance with 

 my Lee-Metford (as the most suitable weapon, anyway for this 

 class of elephants) in my hands (not wishing to use any of my 

 big cartridges on such small fry), on the look-out for one with 

 rather better teeth. 



As they seemed all about the same class and I was afraid 

 they would re-enter the swamp and escape us altogether, I 

 increased my pace so as to overtake them, with the idea that 



