AFTER ELEPHANT AT BARINGO 
67 
of which contained eggs resembling those of onr sparrow, 
but speckled with a violet tinge ; in others the young 
were hatched. 
The next view of our elephant was from a thorn- 
tree at seventy yards. He stood quiescent, his enormous 
ears flapping to keep off the flies. Omitting details of 
detours necessitated or suggested by varying airs, at 
last I found myself watching this giant beast (from a 
tree) within thirty yards. Only the ridge of his back 
and huge ears were visible above the tall grass, all in 
deep shade, and I was debating within myself what was 
weaver-finches’ nests. 
the right course to pursue, enjoying the novel sight and 
trying to recollect all that the great elephant-hunters 
had advised. Already Archer, very rightly, had raised a 
question of the wisdom of “ taking on ” a solitary old bull 
under such conditions; but I only reflected on the forty 
miles we had come, the rivers swum, the game in view, 
and had not realised the full import of his remark nor the 
danger of this venture. The perception was not long de¬ 
layed. A distinct and continued puff of wind on the back 
of my neck brought it home. One moment later that ere- 
whiles somnolent elephant was all alert. Up in air full 
twenty feet towered the great trunk, its point deflected 
hither and thither to pick up those grains of scent in the 
