ashes, which were watched with the greatest interest by the other
Kaffirs. At length he rose, and, coming forward, informed me that it was
all right, and that I did well to go and hunt the elephants, as I should
get plenty of ivory; but he advised me to go on foot. I said I should
do nothing of the sort, but meant to ride. I am wiser now; this was
the first and last time that I ever attempted to hunt elephants on
horseback.

Accordingly we started at dawn, I, Indaba-zimbi, and three men; the rest
I left with the waggons. I was on horseback, and so was my driver, a
good rider and a skilful shot for a Kaffir, but Indaba-zimbi and the
others walked. From dawn till mid-day we followed the trail of the herd,
which was as plain as a high road. Then we off-saddled to let the horses
rest and feed, and about three o'clock started on again. Another hour or
so passed, and still there was no sign of elephants. Evidently the herd
had travelled fast and far, and I began to think that we should have to
give it up, when suddenly I caught sight of a brown mass moving through
the thorn-trees on the side of a slope about a quarter of a mile away.
My heart seemed to jump into my mouth. Where is the hunter who has not
felt like this at the sight of his first elephant?

I called a halt, and then the wind being right, we set to work to stalk
the bull. Very quietly I rode down the hither side of the slope till we
came to the bottom, which was densely covered with bush. Here I saw the
elephants had been feeding, for broken branches and upturned trees lay
all about. I did not take much notice, however, for all my thoughts
were fixed upon the bull I was stalking, when suddenly my horse gave
a violent start that nearly threw me from the saddle, and there came a
mighty rush and upheaval of something in front of me. I looked: there
was the hinder part of a second bull elephant not four yards off. I
could just catch sight of its outstretched ears projecting on either
side. I had disturbed it sleeping, and it was running away.

Obviously the best thing to do would have been to let it run, but I was
young in those days and foolish, and in the excitement of the moment I
lifted my "roer" or elephant gun and fired at the great brute over my
horse's head. The recoil of the heavy gun nearly knocked me off the
horse. I recovered myself, however, and, as I did so, saw the bull
lurch forward, for the impact of a three-ounce bullet in the flank will
quicken t