260 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



distance from the fountain, and drew them up among 

 . some buohes about four hundred yards to leeward of 

 the water. In the evening I was employed in manu- 

 facturing hardened bullets for the elephants, using a 

 composition of one of pewter to four of lead ; and I had 

 just completed my work, when we heard a troop of el- 

 ephants splashing and trumpeting in the water. This 

 was to me a joyful sound ; I slept little that night. 



On the 26th I arose at earliest dawn, and, having 

 fed four of my horses, proceeded with Isaac to the fount- 

 ain to examine the spoor of the elephants which had 

 drunk there during the night. A number of the paths 

 contained fresh spoor of elephants of all sizes, which 

 had gone from the fountain in different directions. We 

 reckoned that at least thirty of these gigantic quadru- 

 peds had visited the water during themght 



We hastily returned to camp, where, having break- 

 fasted, I saddled up, and proceeded to take up the spoor 

 of the largest bull -elephant," accompanied by after- 

 riders and three of the guide^ to assist in spooring. I 

 was also accompanied by my dogs. Having selected 

 the spoor of a mighty bull, the Beohuanas weiit ahead, 

 and I followed them. It was extremely interesting and 

 exciting work. The foot-print of this elephant was 

 about two feet in diameter, and was beautifully visible 

 in the soft sand. The spbdr at first led us for about 

 three miles in an easterly direction, along one of the 

 sandy foot-paths, without a check. We then entered'' 

 a very thick forest, and the elephant had gone a little, 

 out of the path to smash some trees, and to plow up the* 

 earth with his tuslis. He soon, however, again took 

 ■ the path, and held -along it for several miles. 



We were on rather elevated ground, with a fine view 

 of a part of the Bamangwato chain of mountains be- 



