36o ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA chap. 



tufts of grass as served, the chance of discovery, as long as I 

 kept still, and the wind held true, was past. The old veteran, 

 on whom I had set my heart, now offered a good mark, broad- 

 side on, but slightly turned towards me. Taking steady aim, 

 I gave him a shot right through the shoulder. He ran but a 

 little way, getting another bullet as he retreated, and then came 

 down, never to rise again. 



This was very satisfactory. The others, being unhurt, and 

 not knowing what was up, stood again just beyond his prostrate 

 hulk, beside some good-sized leafy suaki bushes. I risked the 

 fallen bull getting up again — a not unlikely chance — and crept 

 up under cover of his carcase. Luck was with me : the very 

 one I wanted — that, namely, which I believed to be the second 

 best — moved out from the trees, just sufficiently to give me my 

 opportunity. As he stood sideways, I recognised him at once 

 to be the one which had stood foremost, when I had first taken 

 stock of them, and he also got a fatal wound ; but I could not 

 give him another as he decamped, owing to the rifle getting on 

 to half-cock again — as is its aggravating wont at inconvenient 

 moments, though I have never succeeded in making it do it in 

 cold blood. However, I had hardly got it to rights before we 

 saw him fall, heels in air, amidst a cloud of dust, in a little, 

 bushy hollow just beyond. He got on to his legs again, but 

 was evidently done, and Juma wanted to follow up the other 

 two at once ; but I said no, let us stick to our motto of 

 " poli-poli," and see these two safe first. He soon lay low, 

 though, for the last time, and we went on after the remaining 

 two, of which there was only one left worth shooting. 



Taking their spoor over another slight rise, we found they 

 had entered a shallow valley with some thickish patches of 

 bush, but of no very great extent. I did not feel keen about 

 following into thick cover ; however, we kept on for a while, 

 and, having ascertained which direction they had taken, I went 

 up on to the low ridge skirting the valley to look over it. I 

 soon made out an ear in a thick patch under a big " suaki," but. 



