326 ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



happening some day. In fact, if one only keeps on at it long 

 enough, sooner or later he is bound to be caught. For in 

 hunting elephants in the dense cover in which, for the most 

 part, they have to be sought in Equatorial Africa, any little 

 hitch or mischance at a critical moment, such as tripping up, 

 or a difficulty with one's gun similar to what occurred in my 

 case, is sufficient to turn the scale against one's chance of 

 escape ; and, once caught, the odds are overwhelming that the 

 hunter upon whom the tables have been turned will not live 

 to tell the tale. Just retribution, perhaps you will say ; and, 

 for my part, I harboured no ill-will against the elephant for 

 avenging its kith and kin. It was the fortune of war. 



The next day I sent word to Abdulla to come with more 

 men to carry me back to Kere, that I might be laid up in my 

 own camp. They arrived the morning after, and made a 

 stretcher under my directions ; and early on the third I was 

 carried back half-way. At this halting-place I caught a severe 

 chill, through lying naked on wet sheets all night. I made 

 my men pour water over my wounds to cool them, and no one 

 had the sense to see that I should suffer from this treatment, 

 while I was too weak to take much notice. The result was 

 severe fever, which added greatly to my sufferings. But details 

 of these would not make edifying reading. My men carried 

 me with the greatest care and gentleness back to Kere, and 

 the journey was less painful than I had expected. I thought 

 it well to give Abdulla a short letter to take back to the coast 

 in case I should not recover, explaining what had happened, 

 and testifying to their good behaviour. One and all vied with 

 each other in doing everything in their power for me ; they 

 gave me no trouble, and their behaviour was in every respect 

 most praiseworthy, while their solicitude for me earned my 

 sincere gratitude. 



Though my men's exemplary conduct gave me no cause 

 for disquiet, I felt considerable anxiety during this long period 

 of helplessness and pain. My camp at Kere was, as I have 



