A NOBLE BULL ELEPHANT BAGGED. 319 



of men were thridding the mazes of the forest, each 

 warned the man. behind him of any rough sticks, stones, 

 or thorns which lay across the path, by the same ele- 

 gant and friendly gesture. 



We resumed the spoor at a rapid pace, with a wide- 

 ly-extended front, and presently on my left I heard the 

 joyous signal of the presence, " Klow ;" and, cantering 

 in that direction, I came full in sight of an enormous 

 bull elephant, marching along at a free majestic pace, 

 and in another minute I was riding by his side. The 

 horse which I bestrode on this occasion was "The 

 Cow," one of my best and steadiest shooting-horses ; 

 and the forest being tolerably .suited for the sport, I was 

 not long in finishing the elephant. I fired thirteen bul- 

 lets at his head and shoulder ; on receiving the last two 

 shots sharp right and left behind the shoulder, he made 

 a rapid charge, and disappeared among the trees. Cau- 

 tiously following, I'disoQvered him lying in an upright 

 position, with his two fore legs stretched out before him. 

 Fancying he was still alive, I fired both barrels at his 

 ear ; but, though the balls rang loudly on his venera- 

 ble head, the noble elephant heeded not their force ; 

 his ancient spirit had departed. 



This \yas a very large old elephant ; but his tusks 

 were much destroyed, being worn down, and having 

 been braken (probably i" rocky ground) in former years, 

 Mutchuisho appeared in the highest glee, and dispatch- 

 ed messengers through the gorge in the mountains, the 

 name of which is Sabie, to advise Sieomy of the death 

 of the elephant. The chase had led me to within rifle- 

 range of the three veteran acacias I admired in the morn- 

 ings I nGide my bower and a couch of grass beneath a 

 shady wait-a-bit thorn-tree, and encircled my fire with 

 a hedge of the same description. 



