Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-11
the forest, and stare on horseback after

the forest, and start on horseback AFTER
the elephants.
/ communicated my decision 20 linda
ba-ximbi and the other Kaflrs The lat
ter were not 10th, for your Kafir loves
hunting, which means plenty Of meat
and congenial occupation, but 1ndaha-
zimbi would express no opinion. Isaw
him retire to little fire that he had Lit
for himself, and go through soma mys-
FERROUS performances with bones and
clay mixed with ashes, which were
watched with the greatest interest by the
other Kaffirs. At length he rose, and,
coming forward. informed me that it
was all right, and that did well to go
and hunt the elephants, as should get
plenty of ivory; but he advised me to go
on foot. ! said / should do nothing Of
the sort, but meant to ride. I ann wiser
now; that was the first and last time that
ever attempted to hunt elephants on
horseback.
Accordingly, we started at dawn, l,
Indaba-zimbi and three men; the rest I
left with the wagons. was on horse
back and so was my driver, good rider
and skiflful shot for a Kaffir, but In
daba-zimbi and the others walked. From
dawn till midday we followed the trail
of the herd, which was as plain as q
high road. Then we off saddled to let
the horses rest and feed, and about 3
O'Clock started on again. Another hour
or 80 passed, and still there was no sign
of elephants. Evidently the herd bad
travelled fast and far; and ] began to
think that we should have to give it up,
when suddenly I caugh. sight Of q
brown mass moving through the thorn
trees on the side OF q slope about q quar-
ter of a mile away. Myheort seemed
to Jump into my mouth. Where 10 the
hunter who has notfaits likethfs ct the
sight of his first elephant I called q
halt, and then, the wind being right, we
set to work to stalk the bull.
Very quietly rode down the hither
side Of the slope till we came to the bot
tom, which was densely covered with
bush. Here I saw the elephants had
been feeding, for broken branches and
upturned trees lay all about. Ibid not
AXE much notice, however, for alLmy
thoughts were fixed upon the bull I was
stalking, when suddenly my horse made
q violent start that nearly threw me
from the saddle, and there came q
mighty rush and upheaval of something
in front of me. looked: there was the
hinder part Of a second bull elephant not
four yards off. could just catch sight
Of it's outstretched ears projecting on
either side. Ihad disturbed it sleeping,
and it was running away. Obviously the
best thing to do-would have been to let
! it run, but was young inthose days and
| foolish, and in the excitement of the mo-
ment / lifted my "roer" or elephant gun
and fired at the great brute over my
horses head. The recon of the heavy
gun nearly knocked me off the horse.
recovered myself, however, and as I
did-so, saw the bull furch forward, for
the impact-of three ounce bullet in the
TANKS win quicken the movements even
Of an elephant. BY this time ! had real
lied the folly of the shot, and devoutly
hoped that the bull would take no fur
Their notice of 1t. But he hada different
view Of the matter. Pulling himself up
in series Of plunges, ne spun around
and came for me with outstretched ears
and uplifted trunk, screaming terribly.
I was quite defenseless, for my gun was
empty, and my first thought was of es-
cape. dug my heels into tho sides of
my horse, but he would not move an
inch. The poor animal was paralyzed
with terror, and he simply stood still, his
forelegs outstretched, and quivering all
| over hike leaf.
On rushed the elephant, awful to see;
made one more vain effort to stir the
horse. Now the trunk of the great bull
swung aloft above my head. A thought
| flashed through my brain. Quick as
light rolled from the saddle. BY the
side Of the horse lay fallen tree, as
thick through as a mans body. The
tree was lifted little off the ground by
the broken boughs which took its weight,
and with single movement, so active is
one in such necessities, / flung myself
beneath 1t. AS did so, heard the trunk
Of the elephant descend with mighty
thud on the back Of my poor horse, and
the next instant was almost In dark
ness, for the horse, whose back was
broken, fell over across the tree under
which I lay ensconced. But he did not
stop there long. In ten seconds more the
bull had got his trunk round my dead
nag's neck, and, with a mighty effort,
hurled him clear Of the tree. Iwriggled
backwards as far as could towards the
roots of the tree, for I knew what he was
after.
Presently saw the red tip of the bulls
trunk stretching itself towards me. II
he could manage to hook it round any
part of me was lost. But in the posi-
ton occupied, that was just what he
could not do, although he knelt down to
facilitate his operations. On came the
swapping tip like great open-mouthed
snake; 1t closed upon my hat. which
vanished. Again it was thrust down,
and n scraam Of ra0a uaa haIloxpad