XI A MISSFIRE 209 



sir). Seizing the gun, I Jet him get past me, and 

 stood ready. I could hear the bushes rustling, and 

 soon saw the tops switching, but nothing more. The 

 next instant, however, the head of an elephant, with 

 the immense ears outspread, and the little eyes 

 twinkling wickedly, burst into sight ! He, too, saw 

 me at the same moment, and, thinking no doubt that 

 he had me, at once commenced to trumpet, having 

 remained quiet until then — a sign he meant mischief. 

 He held his trunk down, so that I could not get a shot 

 at his chest, and cannot say that I took much of an 

 aim at all, for there was no time ; but, getting the 

 sight somewhere on his head, I fired, and then threw 

 myself out sideways under the bushes. Looking 

 round, I saw my antagonist retreating backwards with 

 his trunk raised perpendicularly in the air, evidently 

 stunned and dazed, but otherwise none the worse. 

 He now walked to about fifteen yards from where I 

 lay, and again stood, densely thick jungle intervening 

 between us. I took my second gun (after noiselessly 

 loading the one I had just fired) from Arotsy, who 

 had stood fast behind me, and gave him a bullet 

 through the bush. On receiving this attention he 

 walked on, and after going a short distance, again 

 stood, feeling about for the wind with his raised trunk. 

 He now offered a splendid shot, as the bush between 

 us, though thick, was low, and his whole shoulder was 

 exposed. Covering him carefully, I pulled the trigger, 

 but the only sound was the snapping of the cap, on 

 which I bobbed down instantaneously. The elephant, 

 hearing the click, spun round and stood with ears 

 raised, looking towards whence the sound had 

 proceeded ; but we all lay like hares, and, seeing 

 nothing, he again walked on. Hastily putting on 

 another cap, I then stood up, and, getting another 



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