298 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
moving slowly along the edge of the swamp away from us, but 
one giant stood behind alone. I now started after them. As 
we passed opposite the one that was down, I saw that it had 
fallen over on its side. Going on, we found much blood on the 
spoor of the big bull standing alone, which was thus proved to 
be my third wounded one, and, getting within glass-range, 1 
could make out a bullet-hole in his left shoulder. I noticed he 
seemed standing as if lame in both shoulders, and when I got 
pretty near he turned round, and I could see that there was 
also blood on the opposite side. I now crept up, and, taking 
the cripple-stopper, held for a steady finishing shot, but two 
cartridges snapped, and I had to take my .303 again. He was 
moving towards the swamp again now, and more or less away 
from us, so that it was not easy to bring him down suddenly ; 
but, after receiving two or three bullets in quick succession, he 
staggered and pitched on his front knees, resting his tusks on 
the ground for support, his lofty hind-quarters still standing 
erect, and, after remaining for a brief space in this curious 
position, lurched backwards, and finally rolled over on his side. 
Thus I had my three bulls—all huge fellows—down. This 
last had massive but not long tusks. I measured him carefully 
at once. The elephants that had been in front of him had now 
disappeared into the swamp, so we retraced our steps towards 
the other dead ones. 
On coming within sight of the other, which lay in the open, 
I could see its upper tusk gleaming in the morning sun like a 
great white crescent, concave side downwards. When I came 
up to it I was indeed pleased to find its tusks were both long 
and thick — much bigger than any I had yet shot. They 
girthed 1 foot 9^ inches just outside the lip. My gun-bearers 
congratulated me with pleased smiles. I believed the one in the 
lake, though, to be the best of the three, but when I came to 
measure the tusk above water (the right) I found it was not 
quite so thick. At the same time, I knew that an elephant 
always falls with its heaviest tusk down ; besides, I had a good 
