I 12 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
awe-inspiring. I had now an opportunity of observing these 
two effects. The wind died away as I waited, hoping he 
would move of his own accord so as to give me a chance to 
shoot. I silently plucked a bit of grass ; the fragments floated 
down with a tendency very near his direction. Sure enough 
just after he got a whiff; for he suddenly moved forward three 
or four yards across a little bare space ahead of him, wheeled 
round and stood facing diagonally half towards me, his head up, 
trunk raised and ears out, all on the alert, the opposite of his 
previous sleepy attitude. I knew he would be off now, so 
instantly aimed at his chest, in front of his left shoulder, which 
was towards me, and pulled both triggers together. I had 
made up my mind to try this the next chance I got at one 
of these huge bulls, after failing to stop the one that morning. 
The gun gave me a smart kick in the face, but the elephant 
went off with very suggestive grunts and I felt I had given 
him a good shot. Following his track, we found a good deal 
of blood spattered about, and a very short way on one of my 
Ndorobo lads (who had come up with my gun-bearers after 
the shot) started to run for it, a sure sign he had caught sight 
of our elephant. 
Advancing cautiously, I found him (the elephant) stand¬ 
ing in a fairly open bit of straight path. His position 
being just what it had been (as regards me) when I first 
fired at him, I gave him another similar shot, though only 
one barrel this time. He did not move, except to slue a 
little more directly facing me. I was considering whether to 
give him the left barrel in his eye, his head being a little 
inclined to one side, and for that purpose took another step 
forward, when—this movement of mine having no doubt 
enabled him to make me out—he suddenly rushed at me. 
As there were not more than ten yards between us and he 
came straight for me at a quick run, there was no time for 
hesitation. There was luckily a little opening to my right ; 
into this I slipped, crouching to be less readily noticed. 
