XIV RETURN TO LAKE RUDOLPH 321 



even smallish tusks were better than no ivory. As I did so, 

 they halted again. I could see only bits of one or two through 

 the foliage, and was hesitating what to shoot at when one of 

 them decided the matter by coming towards me. I fired for 

 her chest, and she fell at once and never got up again. The 

 others continued their way, and I hurried after them till one of 

 them, a cow with small tusks, turned and chased us a short way ; 

 but we had a good start, and when she got unsighted she turned 

 back after the others. I did not want to shoot her, for her 

 ivory was poor and she had a calf with her. Following again, I 

 got a chance at another cow, with teeth a little better than 

 those of the first. A single .303 bullet disabled her also, passing 

 diagonally through her shoulder. As she plunged about a good 

 deal in falling, I gave her a shot in the brain from the Martini 

 in passing, by way of making sure, and hurried on without 

 bestowing another glance at my second victim. Just after this 

 a large elephant crossed the path in front, pausing a moment 

 opposite me. 1 seized the opportunity it thus gave me, and, 

 though it passed on to the right after receiving the shot, I felt 

 sure it was fatally hit. I did not pause then to look for it, 

 and later we had other things to think about, but some days 

 after, when my men came to fetch the ivory, they found it 

 lying dead close to where I had fired at it (a young bull with 

 tusks of about 50 lbs. the pair). 



More than once this morning the next cartridge had refused 

 to go into the breech of the magazine rifle after a shot, in one 

 case spoiling a good chance at another elephant ; and I said 

 and felt that I was not safe with this weapon in my hands, in 

 spite of its marvellous shooting powers — to say nothing of 

 losing elephants through the best chance often passing. Never- 

 theless I kept on with it without giving the matter another 

 thought. Without a moment's delay after firing at the young 

 bull (whose short, white, thickish tusks I had mentally noted), 

 I pushed on along the narrow path which continued parallel 

 with the swamp, through dense jungle, in pursuit of the still 



Y 



