ELEPHANT HUNTING. 557 
densest parts of the cover, he caught up the red dust with 
his trunk, and throwing it over his head and back, endeavored 
tv conceal himself in a cloud. This was a fine opportunity 
to pour in my deadly shafts, and I took care to avail myself 
of it. When he had received about twelve shots, he walked 
slowly forward in a dying state, the blood streaming from 
his trunk. I rode close up to him, and gave him a sharp 
right and left from the saddle: he turned and walked a few 
yards, then suddenly came down with tremendous violence on 
his vast stern, pitching his head and trunk aloft to a pro- 
digious height, and, falling heavily over on his side, expired. 
This was an extremely large and handsome elephant, decidedly 
the finest bull I had shot this year. Afraid of taking cold 
or rheumatism, for I was in a most profuse perspiration, I 
hastened back to my fireside, having first secured all the dogs 
in their couples. Here I divested myself of my leather 
. trowsers, shooting-belt, and veldt-schoens, and, stretched on 
my kaross, I took tea, and wondered at the facility with 
which I had captured this mighty elephant. 
Feeling fatigued, I intended to lie down and rest till 
morning. Just, however, as I was arranging my saddles 
for a pillow, I beheld another first-rate old bull elephant 
advancing up the vley from the south. I at once resolved 
that he, too, should run the gauntlet wish the dogs. In 
immense haste, therefore, I once more pulled on my old 
leathers, and buckled on my shooting-belt, and ran down 
into the rank long grass beside the fountain to meet him, 
armed with the large two-grooved rifle, having directed Carey 
and Piet to come slowly up with the dogs and my horse and 
gun as soon as they were ready. The elephant came on, and 
stood drinking within thirty yards of me. When I saw 
Carey coming on with the dogs and steed, I fired, but my 
rifle hung fire. The shot, however, gave the dogs good 
courage, and they fought well. The elephant took away 
at a rapid pace toward the other fountain where the Bechu- 
