Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-09
Upon the Elephants.

Upon the Elephants.
Soon We heard them. and reservnG only
a fund.- or native hunter, and a gunboy,
the rest of the boys were sent back to the
outskirts of the jungle. With the utmost
caution we proceeded, creeping under
overhanging branches and gently freeing
ourselves from the grip of thorns. we
could now hear an elephant on our left
and another on our right. then the two in
front 1t was a dangerous position. and
anxieusly we crumhled the dried grass We
carried, watching the fakes as they fell
to determine the direction of the breaths
of wind that could not be felt, but which
would be quite sufficient to let the ele-
plants smell US if the breaths of air blew
from us to them. The worst OF 1t was
that their direction constantly changed,
and we expected an elephant to charge at
any moment. We were now close TO the
biggest elephant, but could not sec him,
the other elephants being respectively to
the left rear. to the right rear. and the
fourth on our left front, we having
passed between two of them as they I'M
suspciously took their midday rest. Sud
denly one of the elephants behind wlnded
us. and gave low growl. Instantly there
was commotion in front. and the big
elephant. who had been lying down, rose
to his feet. Though only five yards away,
the only portion of his body to be seen
was small piece of his right cheek ana
about six inches of cleaning tusk. Quickly
Judging from this where his earhole should
be. the first shot was fired, followed al
most Immediately sby a second, SO rapidly
can the bolt of a modern rife be worked
Immediately the jungle resounded to the
crash of branches and trees and the
furious trumpeting of the four elephants
as off they dashed. Another shot was
planted in the flank of the big elephant as
he came into sight for a second in his
headlong flight. the three of us in hot
pursuit. Under trees and branches we
ran, clambering over the trees bowled
over by the wounded elephant, leaving
clothing and flesh on the thorn bushes.
while ahead of us two elephants crashed
their way through the dense growth. ana,
what was still worse, the other two ele-
plants were coming up somewhere IN our
rear Luckily for us, they each took or
rather made their own paths. and, passing
us on either side, joined their companions
in front. Emerging from the jungle at
last. we followed the spOOr through the
grass and clumps of trees for an hour and
a half. when the fund.- whispered eagerly,
"Tembo. bwana" c'elephant. mastery,
and following the direction of his pointing
finger, we saw three elephants making OF
about three hundred yards away. A very
the spine, and he collapsed on to his
launches. his hind legs paralyzed AS
we rushed up he pulled himself to his
feet by the aid of his trunk wound
round a tree, hut collapsed once more. He
made furious efforts to get at us. MS
great head Decking and bowling, while his
trunk reached out and pulled over every
thing it managed to grip, and all the
while he trumpeted and shrieked with
rage Shot after shot was plunked into
his head without effect, due to it's con-
slant movement. until, getting close up.
but beyond the deadly reach of his trunk.
by lying down and waiting for an oppor-
tunity, shot into his earhole penetrated
to his brain. and he dropped, rolling over
onto his side, dead as doOrnail. Round
the huge carcass danced the funds, mad
with Joy, singing and laughing. ever and
anon rushing up to offer their praises and
concentrations, in which they were soon
Joined by the boys left behind. who had
followed on our spoor. while we reclfned.
absolutely exhausted by the long chase.
Then followed the fund.- ceremonies. sup
posed to appease the spirit Of the dead
elephant, and the tall being cut off we
proceeded to camp the other elephants
having got too good start to make II
advisable to follow them up. One ele-
phant was yet unaccounted for, ana two
DAYS afterward powerful odor attracted
the attention of one of the boys. and the
cascass of the elephant wounded In the
thick Jungle was discovered. the other
having evidently been unwounded when
nit in the spine.