Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-19

branch and receded from that place and even
as delicately did Herbert and Omari the
guide looked surprised He had expected uS
to leap into the presence and be at our work.
He had been told so often that We desired TO
XIII an elephant q big elephant, that he could
not be expected to understand our hesitation
when we were almost literally beneath its feet.
But perhaps retreat had something 10 40
with our dawa. Perhaps our magic had 70 Work
another way OMAR gave look OF exhausted
patience and took the lead himself, making o
circuit to the left into the clearing. 1t was
not really what you would call clearing except
in contrast to the forest. for 1t was puncny
with thicketS and rhythmic with long waving
grass. It was the slope OF hui ana we eogeo
up the slope trying to make out elephants. Inc
one that had been by the bush had moved on
So we circIed along to the right on the top OF
the slope Suddenly we saw great head loom
ing over the thicket-then beyond back curV-
ing through the grass. There were two, three,
four, FIVE Once began seeing elephants
saw them all over the place. They were nan
way down the slope below us, streaming on
right and left. Their backs were TO US ana
they were feeding as they went. We looked hard
for the big tusker, but not glimpse OF ivory
could we get anywhere. The grass was just
long enough to hide the tusks. Not even when
one big fellow came out from bush ana
walked directly across to another could we
see his tusks held bead on him till ne was
out of sight, but dared not shoot. So we waited,
tense and excited.
THEN I thought we had lost them. First
one trunk went up in the air, then
another and another, until there were three In
q row, like trained snakes, twisting and turn
ing to see what strange thing there was in the
air fourth trunk went up to the left. Ev1.
IDENTIFY they had caught warning OF some new
thing they didn't care at all about, Tor they
ceased feeding and made of, not In rush, but
with steady, onward gait.
Beyond this clearing was stretch OF tan
grass dipping down the hin, and beyond, on the
rising ground opposite stretched little bit Of
clearing in the enguldng forest. They were
headed straight that way. Our only nope was
to get another look at them in the clearing
coming out of the grass The guides started
to race along the top of the slopes we were on,
to circle round and approach the clearing from
the left. Fearless as they were in the forest,
they would not stir step into country without
cover Herbert started straight ahead.
We were Just in time, for we were down the
slope on the edge of the tall grass, when the
elephants came out from the opposite side and
started up the clearing. And then saw the
big tusker.. He was red as sandstone in the
sunlight, his tusks curving like scimitars ahead
of him. Close behind another big bull,
but had eyes only for the first.
It had been agreed that, If possible, was to
fire alone at my elephant, and Herbert would
not come to my assistance unless he had TO. I
knew he could bring down any elephant he
tried for and wanted to see what my Spring.
field could do, unaided. Now Herbert told me
quickly to take the first one and he'd look out
for the herd. 1t was a long shot--300 yards we
found 1t later. took as true an aim as could
for q quartering shot into the brain and fired
He gave surge forward and fired again
quickly, but the forest had swallowed him.
didn't know If he were down or up. Omari
cried down, but I was terribly afraid had
missed him.
The second elephant had half turned and We
had an inStant's impression Of Outspread ears
and lifted trunk then he whirled and screamed
and came straight on. It was an unmistakable
charge If he had got to the tall grass We