Копи царя Соломона
An Elephant Hunt
AshewentIgavehimthesecondbarrelintheribs,andthisbroughthimdowningoodearnest. HastilyslippingintwofreshcartridgesIrancloseuptohim,andaballthroughthebrainputanendtothepoorbrute’sstruggles. ThenIturnedtoseehowGoodhadfaredwiththebigbull,whichIhadheardscreamingwithrageandpainasIgavemineitsquietus. OnreachingthecaptainIfoundhiminagreatstateofexcitement. Itappearedthatonreceivingthebulletthebullhadturnedandcomestraightforhisassailant,whohadbarelytimetogetoutofhisway, andthenchargedonblindlypasthim,inthedirectionofourencampment. Meanwhiletheherdhadcrashedoffinwildalarmintheotherdirection.
Forawhilewedebatedwhethertogoafterthewoundedbullortofollowtheherd,andfinallydecidingforthelatteralternative,departed,thinkingthatwehadseenthelastofthosebigtusks. Ihaveoftenwishedsincethatwehad. Itwaseasyworktofollowtheelephants,fortheyhadleftatraillikeacarriageroadbehindthem,crushingdownthethickbushintheirfuriousflightasthoughitweretamboukigrass.
Buttocomeupwiththemwasanothermatter,andwehadstruggledonunderthebroilingsunforovertwohoursbeforewefoundthem. Withtheexceptionofonebull,theywerestandingtogether,andIcouldsee,fromtheirunquietwayandthemannerinwhichtheykeptliftingtheirtrunkstotesttheair,thattheywereonthelook-outformischief.
