Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-03-10

fered to show us a herd Of elephants
which were in our immediate neigh
borhood. Gladly accepting the offer,
we accompanied them some five or six
miles from our camp, when we were
placed In concealment on the top Of
a hill which overlooked small stream
at its foot, and gave a fine view Of the
rising ground beyond. After remain
ing hidden some time the gestures Of
the native who was left with US caused
us to turn our eyes toward the uplands
in front, when the agitation of the foli-
age gave warning Of the passing of the
expected game. In few minutes the
elephants became partially visible
through the intervening underwood,
and 1 counted sixty-three, which were
plainly perceptible to my astonished
gaze, and were evidently but a portion
of the entire herd. After the last had
passed out Of sight our custodian
piloted us back to the camp, and /
vowed never to be caught in similar
predicament again. The feeling OF
having been within a short distance
of an animal I had always vehemently
wished to kill, and having been pre-
vented from making the attempt. so
perturbed me that some time elapsed
before I recovered my composure.
NV next encounter with them took
place on the banks Of the Zambesi
river while on my way to the Victoria
Falls. For several days had been ac-
companying a party of Boers, VINO
were on a regular hunt for ivory.
Having formed the acquaintance Of
portion of them some time previously.
I 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 their appear
ance and reported that they had seen
indications which plainly demonstrated
the presence Of herd Of tuskers with
in a short distance Of our quarters.
All the preparations for moving were
Immediately suspended and the hunters
promptly arranged for a secret on
slaught on the much coveted game.
By the scouts we were taken several
miles from our camp and distributed
in carefully concealed positions
stretching along in a line for a consid-
erable distance, to intercept the pro-
gress of the herd, which were report
ed to be feeding along slowly and not
aware Of our propinquity. 1t required
a strong effort on 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 1t. Finally my
patience was rewarded by catching a
glimpse Of the tips Of pair OF tusKs
Just protruding from dense mass OF
foliage about a hundred feet from me-
It seemed an age before the head OF
the animal appeared, when I breath
lessly took aim and pulled the trigger
In my confused state I neglected TO
hold the butt Of the huge rifle firmly
against my shoulder, and consequently
received so sudden jar that abruptly
sat down with such force that 1t was
some seconds before I recovered con-
sciousness and concluded to remain
seated in order to escape any stray
bullet fired by others of the party al
game in my vicinity. So soon as there
was a cessation Of the fusillade, I re-
sumo an upright position and made
nv way back to the spot where l had
seen the head, and 1t was with feel
ing of inordinate exultation that 1 cast
my eyes upon the body Of a huge ele-
phant, whose skull had been perforated
by the ball Of the gun which had CIV
en- me such hasty tumble. In shor'
time I was Joined by the rest Of the
hunters and congratulated on my LUCK
Three other carcasses completed the
number which had been killed, ana
received the hearty congratulations OF
the party for having secured next to
the finest pair of tusks. They were
soon separated from the skull and car
ried to the camp with those acquired
by 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 thor
oughly frightened animals. We camp
ed again about half mile from the
river, and during the night 1 was
awakened by a stir in the camp, and
on turning out was informed that there
were evidently lions in the vicinity
The warning Of their proximity had
been given by the oxen, which detected
their scent, and Immediately rose up
snorting and rattling the traction
chains to which they had been tied by
bits of rawhide. The Kaffirs hurriedly
kindled huge fires, which served to
frighten away the intruders, and the
camp resumed it's usual quiet.
The next morning the Beers prepar-
eu W illlllSl puIiioiiiiiChe Oit viz "AAN
night marauders, mounting their
horses and riding off, guided by the
scent of about half a dozen dogs, which
were kept purposely for such occa-
sions. OF course, I accepted the invi-
tation to accompany the party. as the
proceeding was a novelty to me and
was eager to see how success was to
be accomplished. We cantered off for
about half a mile, when a partially
opened country was reached. The
dogs began to circle and in a compare
lively short time they surrounded a
small copse and squatted on their
launches, giving vent to sundry
growls and barks. The Beers imme-
diately formed a Gordon just outside
of the CANNES, which, at prolonged
shout from their masters, advanced
toward the edge of the thicket with
increased baying. They did not reach
it's margin before a portion of them
turned tail in a hurry, being followed
by a huge male lion, which was in
stantly riddled by bullets of about half
a dozen rifles in the hands Of the Beers
seated on their horses within short