Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

to the right, then to the left of U.S. so we walked
warily with guns at ready. The business of
walking warily for half an hour keeping gun
ready. loses its fascination. In the past that
thrill of danger had kept me alert and inter-
eSted, but nothing could thrill my mood of
pessimism this morning
loathed the business. I was fed up with
horned heads dashing out of bushes and shak-
ing their horns at me- I was through feeling
primitive and intense. felt a fool tiptoeing
round those bushes in an allan Land where I
had no business to be, and I reflected that If
had wanted to be gored to death by horned
beast could have saved myself much trouble
and expense by comparatively simple journey
to the southwest side Of my native city and
dash into the bull pen.
Ultimately the trail ended in a muddy marsh,
and after casting about we found large foot
print on the edge and started after that. For
some time the ground was hard and no prints
showed. then when they did we made the
interesting discovery that we were now on the
trail Of a small COW and very small calf.
Interesting, but unencouraging. The big print
on the edge Of the marsh had been made by
the Calls stepping into the back Of its mothers
print.
WE were starting back to the marsh to dis
cover the true trail when we saw some
scouts that we had sent ahead. and we came
up to them to confer. They had seen over the
hill q far-away lone elephant, and they had
seen nearby the tracks of bull and a cow.
What to do? We went up the hill to look out
and there far in a grassy field was a dot Of q
black elephant grazing It was IN the same
general direction Of the big tracks we had first
been on and we were at liberty TO suppose that
it was the same beast We could not tell
whether it had any tusks or not. 1t might be
q big cow. Green Hill camp had been
rendezvous for enormous cows. Arthur and
Herbert recalled that when sitting ON 8. rock
they had seen three huge beasts come out of
the forest and had thought that Providence
had delivered the greatest bulls of the region
into their hands-and then three little baby
elephants had come hurTying afterl There was
no telling till we got good view of the tlsks,
but we decided to 60 after the beast
Down the hill we went and in the tangled
undergrcwth by the river we came the very
fresh trail Of a large herd, apparently of cows
and babies. Up the river bank and into the
long grass. The big elephant was still there.
We could see his head turning as he grazed,
and every few minutes he stood still and put
his trunk up, feeling the air. He had no alarm;
apparently this was a matter of precaution.
We tested the direction of the wind and found
it variable, but not unfavorable.
On through the grass we plowed. hadn't the
slightest feeling of hope or expectation-I knew
that just as we drew near he would vanish, but
the thing in hand was to pursue, so we pursued.
The sun was hot and the grass high and
ripe, and it scattered fine seeds down ON
like dust. 1t was not going to be helpful to have
an eyeful Of dust at the moment an elephant
presented itself Down another gully, into the
tang1e of river growth, and from the other
bank we strained our eyes to find the dark
form just diScernible now in the taller grass.
He was working back to line of trees against
the horizon. was excited now, but it was an
excitement steel jacketed against disappoint-
ment On we went.
One more gully hetween Is and the eienhant
just q narrow one and so close we feared he
would get our wind. Anyway, 1t was quite pos
sible that he might elect to plunge down into
that retreat instead of among the trees behind
him. The way up was an elephant trail cut
deep into the muddy bank, and as we strug-
gled between the slippery, encompassing wall,
my desire to meet that elephant was for the
moment. in allegiance. We gained the top and
took our bearings by a clump Of trees. Tall
grass shut us in
OMAR, my gun boy, was ahead, and now he
called Riano, MIR. SCOTS gun boy, to go ahead
of him, and I came after the two, the others
filing close behind as possible In the high grass.
We could see nothing now, for the grass was
over our heads. How Omari and Riano held the
direction don't know, circling to avoid an
adverse wind they would in and out. Suddenly
we came upon the trail of the elephant and
followed that. It led toward the trees and as
we followed braced myself for disappoint-
ment. fearful that he was naquenda kabisa--
gone completely. Then Omari made q sign. I
looked mp. just ahead Of us, over the top Of
the grass. q great head was facing U.s.
put up my gun. aware that othes: guns were
going up beside me, but knew that they would
hold their IRE IS long as they dared to give me
the shot, did not want to hre until had
seen the ivory and was sure as could be u
my shot. The convention q hunting gives the
animal to the one who has fkzak put bullet into
him. and in British East AfRio. . lady once got