364 A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



with what remahied of the troop, and I met and 

 turned them back again. The poor animals were 

 now completely knocked up, throwing water over 

 their heated bodies as they walked slowly along, 

 swerving first one way and then the other, as the 

 cruel bullets struck them. A good many had turned 

 out, and made their escape in twos and threes, and as 

 we had been picking out all the best, there were now 

 not many left worth shooting. My friends had fired 

 away almost all their cartridges, but I had still 

 thirteen lett ; for, owing to my horse refusing to 

 stand, I had not commenced firing as soon as they. 

 As the elephants were now only walking, and some- 

 times stood all huddled up together in a mass, offering 

 splendid standing shots, 1 felt sure of killing three 

 or four more with my remaining cartridges, and 

 should doubtless have done so had it not been for an 

 accident that befell me, which happened in this wise. 

 — Having picked out a good cow for my fifth victim, 

 I gave her a shot behind the shoulder, on which she 

 turned from the herd and walked slowly away by 

 herself. As I cantered up behind her, she wheeled 

 round, and stood facing me, with her ears spread, 

 and her head raised. My horse was now so tired 

 that he stood well, so, reining in, I gave her a shot 

 from his back between the neck and the shoulder, 

 which I believe just stopped her from charging. On 

 receiving this wound she backed a few paces, gave 

 her ears a flap against her sides, and then stood facing 

 me again. I had just taken out the empty cartridge 

 and was about to put a fresh one in, when, seeing 

 that she looked very vicious, and as I was not thirty 

 yards from her, I caught the bridle, and turned the 

 horse's head away, so as to be ready for a fair start 

 in case of a charge. I was still holding my rifle with 



