56 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
a comparatively young animal, with only (for a bull) moderate 
teeth weighing 5 5 lbs. apiece. I did not waste time in 
examining my prizes then though, hardly allowing myself 
even a glance at them, for we heard others close by, and going 
in the direction and climbing a tree I was able to see one. 
The undergrowth was here very dense, tall, and leafy, but 
on getting a little nearer I could just make out a bit of the 
elephant I had seen from the tree, and was worming my way 
forward with the greatest care so as not to make any noise, my 
eyes fixed intently on it, when suddenly I heard something 
which made me look round quickly to the left, to behold 
another, which must have been within a few yards, though hidden 
by the thick high scrub, coming for me and almost on me. 
No time to aim ; all I could do was to bang off in its face, 
which was right over me, and throw myself down into the scrub 
behind me. I could just draw myself among the stems far 
enough to escape being trodden on, and only just in time, as 
she (it was a cow with small tusks) was where I had stood the 
instant before (for my shot did not stop her), and waited there 
apparently looking for me. She could easily have reached me 
with her trunk, which I could see moving about as if feeling 
for me, without stirring, and I momentarily expected to be 
hauled out by one of my legs, which I was unable to draw in 
farther on account of the close-growing scrub, and made an 
end of in some unpleasant fashion. As she stood there a second 
or two, screaming and wondering, as it seemed, what had 
become of me, I fired my second barrel as well as I could for 
her ear; but I was in so awkward a position (a bit flustered, 
too, I confess) that I failed to get at her brain. However, she 
made off on receiving the shot. I now found that my cartridge 
pouch was not on me, and in the excitement of the moment 
forgot what had become of it, so rushed back to Squareface (as 
I called my gunbearer), who was a little way behind me, for more 
ammunition. We sought in vain for the belt and pouch where 
I had dropped my hat in avoiding the charge, and at last it 
