The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-08-15
BENNER & BEGG.

frequently visited by the elephants.
me Central African native is not, as a
rule, a Very communicative Individual.
especially to those who understand
hlm' believing as he does. thai facts
are more convincing than idle t,lk
: Before we had been in Conversation
many minutes ] was pleased to hear
one OF the chiefs, q man who had a
splendid reputation among his tribe as
an old elephant hunter, say that he
would take ME to a swamp about a
mile from the shores of the lake and
snow me some fresh spoor. This he
d1d, and [ was ~agreeably surprised to
find that some of these tracks we're
quite fresh and evidently made by
very large bulls. ] decided to lie
III wait for them that night near the
native gardens, which were close at
hhnd, and selected a spot with plenty
oil cover to leeward of the cultivated
area.
With my two 6oO-hore cordite EN-.
presses. a rifle OF smaller caliber not
pelng OF much use at night, i took up
my position soon after darkness had
iailen: had not long to wait before
the elephants approached. Within
half an hour I heard a great commo-
ton to windward. and a few minutes
later the huge beasts were busy tear
ing up the young trees within a few
yards OF me. kept my yes on two
splendid specimens-as far as l could
see the largest in the herd-and as
the moon was shining brightly l could
discern all their movements. soon
mad an opportunity of taking aim, and
fired. the result being that the herd
stampeded in all directions. The up
rear made by elephants when sudden
~ surprised is beyond description. and
only those who have witnessed such a
stampede can form any adequate idea
of the spectacle. The noise was posi-
lively ~deafentng, particularly that
made by the cows who had lost sight
OF their calves. l knew that after
this should not see them again that
night. and soon returned to camp and
TIC bed.
Next morning I was up and out by
8 o'clock and o on found the spoor
OF the herd. This / followed for about
a mile. when one of the boys who had
accompanied me discovered a dead
elephant-a cow little way ahead.
examined the body and found that a
bullet had penetrated the lungs. A
hundred yards farther on we came
across another one. also dead. l did
not wait to see either Of the tusks talk
en- out, as / was anxious to get up to
the herd itself. which we succeeded in
doing about 4 o'clock in the after
noon.
L quickly noticed two magnificent
bulls about 500 yards away on the
right, but to get near them l found we
should have to skirt a very dangerous
swamp and at the same time pass to
Wlnd"ard Of two COWS. Both of the
bulls, however, We're we'll worth the
risk. and l determined to try to secure
them. l managed to skirt the swamp
and pass the W cows without my
presence being detected, and got with
in fifteen yards of the largest bull,
which ] shot without difficulty. then
fired the second barrel at the other
ores shoulder, but could not sec with
what effect. On hearing the noise
made by these shots the main herd
cleared off. but the two cows which 1
ccme straight for me. screaming as
they ran. The boys On the opposite
side of the swamp started yelling at
the top of their voices that I was in
danger. but when I turned round to
look for my gunbearer I found, to my
horror. that he was nowhere to be
seen.
The two charging beasts were now
within sixty yards Of me. and my
plight was getting worse every second.
There was no time to reload my rifle,
and / knew that If l attempted to run
! should be rapidly overhauled. 1
hardly knew what to do. and was be-
ginning to think my case quite hope
less when it suddenly occurred to me
that If I ran INTO the swamp the ele-
plants would speedily get begged II
they attempted 10 follow me. Strange
to say 1t did not strike me at the
moment h a I might get begged my
self. Anyhow. I rushed straight for
the swamp land for the first few yards
made satisfactory progress, as the
somewhat like the Nile sudd-re-
covered after being pressed down.
The farther went. however. the
more soft and spongy the rank growth
became, until. when I had proceeded
about fifteen yards, l sank in up to
MY knees. and found that / could
move neither backward nor forward.
l then realized that my only chance
was to try to lie fiat, as by so doing
my weight would be spread over a
greater area and also give the ele-
plants less opportunity Of finding me.
Even then the mud vas SO soft on the
top that nearly the whole Of my body
sank into 1t, n 1t was only with diff
head above ground. Close beside me
/ found a quantity Of loose reeds. and
in order to hide myself still further
L pulled these over my head. I was
now completely hidden from view. but,
knowing that elephants have n keen
sense of smell. I did not feel at all
confident of evading them il they
should penetrate into the swamp.
1t was soon evident that the beasts
We're no to he outdone. as l could
hear them trying to founder their way
t. ward me. They quickly got into diff
fculties. Judging by the noise they
made. but they continued to approach
me: and in two or three minutes I
could Just see the nearest one not
mora than = HAW VnRA@ nu,ov Th>,,