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EXCURSIONS FROM EL BOGOI 
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suggesting fabulous bulk, the while grimacing notes of admira¬ 
tion to further accentuate his pantomimic description of the 
enormous size of their tusks according to his opinion. I 
watched for some time. They seemed to have ceased feeding. 
Five moved on ahead ; another was some way off apart, the 
other two remained standing quite near our koppie. 
While we sat on the top, the wind, though light, kept 
steadily in our faces ; but on descending, for the purpose of 
approaching these last two elephants, it became puffy and 
shifty, and, as I advanced through the dense cover, I felt 
almost certain it would betray me. Oh for a good stiff 
breeze! However, I decided to go on and chance it, and 
picking my way with every caution, I got near enough to see 
them through the narrow opening in the bush left by the path 
which I was following. One mighty fellow stood among thick 
scrub, head on to me, the other was behind him. I approached 
close, but could not possibly get a shot. I wanted to go back 
and try from another direction, but he seemed to see me and I 
feared if I moved he would go—or come. In this suspense I 
stood for a considerable time, face to face with the great beast. 
He was a huge brute, with magnificent long and thick tusks, 
which I guessed to weigh not less than 90 lbs. apiece. My 
heart sank as I felt the wind lull and veer, and then a gentle 
breath on my back. I knew it was all up, as I could not 
possibly shoot him in his present position, but trusted to a 
possible chance as he turned. Up went his trunk and round 
he swung and was off at a run in a moment. I fired a snap¬ 
shot, but could not see to aim for the thick cover. Nor were 
there any traces of blood on the spoor. We followed their 
windings for hours in this vast stronghold, but at last had to 
give it up, as they had turned down wind in the afternoon. I 
returned to camp heavy at heart. It was a truly heart-break¬ 
ing disappointment that, of the first big bulls I had seen this 
trip, I had failed to get even one. One must bear such, though, 
in a hunter’s life ; and the only thing I could hope, as I had 
