The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-04-29

naked when there was any danger. We
then left the trees and crept cautiously
into the long grass. We saw the ele-
plants drinking at the water, but after
a short time they all started coming
back in single file. / think they must
have scented danger. They passed about
100 yards to our left, and we counted
abouty thirty. As they crossed a clear
ing about 100 yards away we made out
an old bull leading the herd, and both
fired at him.
The whole herd closed up into a bunch
and shifted about with their trunks in
the air. We sat STILL waiting to get
a chance to single out bull. After
minute or SO, which seemed very
long time the bull we had fired at began
trumpeting loudly, the rest Immediately
following suit. breaking the stiffness of
the night by terrific trumpetlng and
screaming. The whole herd charged
straight for us in a mass The natives
fled, and as we could do not good by
shooting W. and | went off in different
directions. The ground was covered with
long dry grass and little bumps. and
/ had not run ten yards before | fell fiat
on my face / was up in a second with
the herd behind me. and rushed on, only
to fall again. This happened a third
time and then | was absolutely blown,
and so | stopped and found to my relief
that the herd had stopped. too, having
evidently lost my wind and were shifting
about.
| went back to within about sixty or
seventy yards of the herd. and was Joined
almost Immediately by W, who had made
for the belt of trees. We waited for a
while to get a good shot, and presently
the herd began to move off again inland.
We made out bull and both fired at him.
The elephants stopped and again closed
up, but apparently did not get our wind
tnis time. as they presently started back
to the khor in single file; but after going
about thirty yards they suddenly turned
and came for us I'm line, trumpeting
loudly
We made off in different directions,
but after running a little way my shi-
kari said that he thought that they had
stopped After a few minutes my shikari
clutched my arm and pointed out to me
two elephants, which / had not seen
and which were facing me not fifty yards
away One of them was waving his
trunk about In the air, evidently thinking
something was near Suddenly he curled
up his trunk. cooked his enormous ears.
and giving a tremendous trumpet, charg
ed down on me, followed by his mate.
with my late experience of running in
the long grass clearly in my mind. |
went off at at a steady double. husband
ing my breath for sprint II they got
close UP to me.
I made for the belt of trees, where 1t
was better going. and soon came on W.
and the natives. who were coming back
TO look for me. As my shikari said
he could see the rest of the herd cont
ing on too we all went along the belt
e
out of sight of them In the darkness
and stopped Although we could not
see we could hear them not far off They
must have lost our scent after bit,
because after waiting some time we sent
a native back to reconnoitre and he
reported that the elephants had gone
back to the khor. We then got hold of
our kit and settled down for the night,
the intention being to follow them up
as they went inland and get shot by
day light.
Some of the elephants went away In
land very soon, and at intervals all night
we could see them loom up in the dark
ness as they passed by us. There were
a few elephants of a different herd on
our right. so that we had them on all
four sides of us. The herd we had fired
at were very angry and kept up ire
mendous trumpeting and screaming Till
about 2 a. M. when most had gone IN
land. All became quiet then, and We
thought that they had all gone Al the
first streak OF dawn we went down TO
the khor To see what damage We had
done the night before.
70 our surprise we saw herd OF
seven still drinking and playing about
In the mud We crouched BEHIND bush
and watched them throwing water about
- hoy
walk back In single file. We let them