A CAUTIOUS OLD ELEPHANT 



37 



goods lie dropped the soap into the water, and it was of course 

 hopelessly lost. The brown flood of the Guaso JSTyuki bore it 

 away, though some half dozen negroes dived after it for a 

 long time. 



As long as Qualla and his 170 men were absent. Count 

 Teleki was able to supply all our needs by hunting every other 

 day only, which disturbed the game less than a daily chase 

 would have done. Buffaloes were the chief animals brought 

 down, and they were so numerous that our men called them 

 ngombe jetu, or our cattle, but now and then wild animals came 

 within range. On the morning of January 13, our cowherd, 

 as he was taking the cattle to pasture, reported elephants 

 in sight, and we saw a number approaching the camp along 

 the base of the hills. The herd consisted of six old males, two 

 young ones, and an old female bringing up the rear, the last 

 with exceptionally fine tusks. The Count was off at once, and 

 ran along the bank to a ford where the animals evidently in- 

 tended to cross the stream. A tree afforded good shelter here, 

 and though the elephants soon showed signs of anxiety, snifiing 

 the air with uplifted trunks, and listening with ears erect, 

 they continued to advance. The Count had judged rightly, 

 and now kept perfectly still till the female with the fine tusks 

 was within range. She was a cautious old creature, and 

 started back when she came to the dangerous spot, but too 

 late ! crack went the charge from the 8-bore rifle, and down 

 she fell into the river with a terrible crash. Her companions, 

 who were now a good many paces in advance, stopped when 

 they heard the shot, and looked about them for a minute 

 or two, but they w^ent on their way again as if nothing had 

 happened, making for the low stony hills shutting in the valley. 

 Count Teleki followed them as quickly as he could, but did not 

 come up with them till they were on the top of a hill. He 

 singled out a big male which lingered a little behind the others 



