104 
ON SAFAKI 
the other two I could not distinguish. A second stalk 
(in very much more open country) also failed, and this 
time the game, I feared, had seen something, for they 
went off at speed, and we utterly lost both sight and 
touch of them. Hours of hard work and constant spy¬ 
ing elapsed before at length we once more descried our 
three friends—again far away to leeward. Another 
long detour followed; but luck this time favoured us. 
In the first place, the elands were now feeding in forest 
where broad grassy opens intervened amidst the timber; 
secondly, after completing our final approach, we found 
the three feeding towards us across one of the said 
opens. Moreover, in the long interval that had occurred 
they had forgotten their suspicions, and grazed towards 
us in absolute security. First came a big old cow with 
very long horns; then a grand bull in his prime ; lastly, 
the glorious old patriarch aforesaid bringing up the rear. 
I was greatly struck by his iron-grey pelt and massive 
proportions, the heavy pendent dewlaps sweeping the 
herbage. The trio passed our front within 120 yards, 
but the shot I made was none too brilliant, though it 
could not have been more successful. Touching the 
spine behind the shoulder (a foot too far back), it 
dropped the big bull on the spot, yet left sufficient 
vitality to enable him to recover his fore-legs and remain 
standing so—as a dog sits on his haunches, and as shown 
in the plate opposite. The other two ran at the report 
of the rifle; but presently, looking back and seeing their 
leader still apparently on his legs, they stood awaiting 
him to rejoin. The distance was not much over 200 
yards, giving me a good shot at the second bull. He 
also was struck too high, but fatally, and hardly moved 
100 yards. Both these splendid animals, in fact, stood 
disabled close by, and within full view. 
Sending Elmi to finish the second bull, I walked up 
to the first, which, unable to move, watched my advance 
with mild, reproachful eyes, tempering the savage joy 
of success. He was a veritable patriarch, his front 
adorned with a mat of dark curly hair, shading off into 
