BISON, BEAR, AND ELEPHANT 177 



as Mr. C. urged me to fire. The "rabbit" also 

 distracted me with his puUing and pointing ; then 

 his nerve gave and he fired. I turned to curse 

 him when the elephant, at the same second, strode 

 forward and stood quarter - right towards me, 

 leaning somewhat backwards, trunk raised on 

 high, scenting for his adversaries. I fired. There 

 was a delightful vision of upturned trunk and 

 feet, a heavy thud and all was still. 



So died the Rogue of Begur. 



An inglorious victory indeed. The poor beast 

 had no chance ; stunned by a heavy rifle, he 

 never knew where his foes were. Rogue he was, 

 yet probably as much sinned against as sinning. 

 He had no hairs on his tail, his ears were in 

 ribbons, and he had three recent bullet wounds on 

 him. 



His tusks were just over 4 feet. I had 

 reckoned he stood 9 feet 9 inches on a modest 

 measure ; but his foot circumference was 54 

 inches. So I had overestimated his height, on 

 the usual basis of calculation of the foot circum- 

 ference being half the height. 



I went home and then returned to cut out the 

 tusks. The news of the rogue's death had 

 spread. The countryside went out to see him, 

 and I met little groups of tens and twenties 

 moving and talking freely where none had walked 

 of late. 



I found an official telegram on my return, 

 ordering me to Simla at once, so I had to abandon 

 expeditions which I had planned, after two other 

 rogues elsewhere. 



In January 1923, after the buffalo shoot, I was 



N 



