The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-01-27


Lydenburg and received a reward from
the BOer Government for his ind,
which caused him 10 Increase his exer-
TORS in hopes OF making further dis
esNAries. We had passed into the Lou
reaco MARQUEE district. and reael.sd the
banks OF one Of tie branches Of the
Crocodile River. whea re entered the
territory governed By a native chief
who would not allow an elephant to be
killed in Bis kingdom except by his
own hunters. During the whole Of
our stay in his territory we were ac-
comDanied By a party OF mis- followers
who never suffered Us to get out Of
their sight Finally, becoming con
WINGED that we had no intention Of
hunting. beyond killing enough Of the
various species Of antel0pes TO supply
our party with fresh meat, they psof-
fered to show Us a herd Of elephants
which were in our immediate neigh
bOrhood. Gladly accepting the prOffer.
we accompanied them some five or
six miles from our camp. when we
were placed in concealmeRt on the top
Of a hill which overlooked a small
stream at its foot, and gave a line
view Of the rising ground beyond.
After remaining hidden for some time
the gestures OF the native who was left
with us caused US to turn our eyes
toward tile uplands in front, when the
agitation Of foliage gave warning OF
the passing Of the expected game. In
few minutes the elephants became
partially visible through the intefyen-
ing underwood, and / counted sixty
three, which were plainly perceptible to
my astonishea gaze. and were evident
ly but 4 portion of the entire herd.
After the last one had passed out Of
sight our custodian piloted Us back
to the camp, and / vowed never to be
caught in a similar predicament again.
Tie feeling Of having been within
short distance Of an animal l had al
ways vehemently wished to kill, and
having been prevented from making
the attempt. so perturh u me that some
time elapsed before recovered my
composure.
My next encounter with them took
place on the banks Of the Zambesi
River while on my way to the Victoria
Falls. For several days l had been
accompanying a party of Boers, who
were on a regular hunt for ivory. Hav-
ing formed the acquaintance Of a por-
ton OF them some time previously, /
was generously invited to join the
gang, and was furnished with a gun
Of suitable calibre for large game. We
were about breaking up camp one
morning when several Of the party,
who had been on a scout during the
preceding night, made theit appearance
and reported that they had seen indica
lions which plainly demonstrated the
presence Of d herd Of tuskers within
short distance CT our quarters. All
the preparations for moving were i'm
mediately suspended and the hunters
promptly arranged for a secret on
siaught on the much coveted game.
Ry the scouts we were taken several
miles from cur camp and distributed
IN carefully concealed positions,
stretched along in a line for consid
srable distance. to intercept the pro
gress of the herd, which were reported
to be feeding along slowly AMI not
aware Of our proninquity. 1t required
a strong effort Oh my part TO follow
the instructions given me to remain
perfectly quiet and allow the game TO
advance on me instead of stealthily
making my way toward it. Finally
my patience was rewarded by catching
a glimpse Of the tips Of a pair of tusks
just protuding from a dense mass of
foliage about a hundred feet from
me. 1t seemed an age before the head
of the animal appeared, when / breath
lessly took aim and pulled the trigger.
In my confused state l neglected to
hold the butt Of the huge rifle firmly
against my shoulder, and consequently
received 50 sudden a jar that abruptly
sat down with such force that it was
some seconds before / recovered con-
sciousness and concluded to remain
seated in order to escape any stray
bullet fired by others Of the party at
game in my vicinity. SO soon as there
was a cessation of the fuslllade / re-
sumed an upright position and made
my way back to the spot where ! had
seen the head, and it was with a feel
ing of inordinate exultation that
cast my eyes upon the body Of huge
elephant. whose skull had been per
forated by the ball of the gun which |
had given me such a hasty tumble. In
short time | was Joined by the rest
of the hunters and congratulated on
my good luck. Three other carcasses
completed the number which had been
killed. and l received the hearty con-
gratulations Of the party for having
secured next to the finest pair Of tusks.
They were soon separated from the
skull and carried to the camp with
those acquired by the others
Immediately after breakfast camp
was broken up, and we proceeded along
up the banks OF the river without again
getting in the vicinity of the thoroughly
frightened animals. We camped again
about half a mile from the river, and
during the night | was awakened by
stir in the camp, and on turning out
was informed that there were evidently |
lions in the vicinity. The warning Of