48o A HUNTER'S WANDERINGS ch. 



splendid broadside shot at about sixty yards' distance. 

 Taking a hasty aim I fired ; to my disgust the cap 

 did not explode, but on cocking again, and taking 

 a second aim, it went off. I had fired at my own 

 elephant, and soon saw that the shot had taken 

 effect, for he slackened his speed at once, and his 

 companion, with a generosity which did him credit, 

 but cost him dear, did the same. They now walked 

 side by side at a good swinging pace, with which, 

 however, I could keep up without any great exertion. 

 I now gave Jameson's elephant a shot just at the 

 root of the tail, upon which he at once stopped, and 

 wheeling to the right, stood broadside to me. My 

 elephant also stopped, standing just in front of him. 

 Pushing in another cartridge I 2:ave him a second 

 ball about the shoulder, when he wheeled towards 

 us and came on with head raised and ears outspread 

 at a half run. I think there is little doubt that he 

 wanted to charge, and was trying to make us out. 

 I stood perfectly still with my rifle at full cock, 

 April crouched behind me. This is the best thing 

 to do in such cases, as, so long as you are motionless 

 and the wind does not betray you, an elephant 

 seems to think that you are a tree or something 

 inanimate, and will stand quite close to you without 

 appearing to make you out ; but if you only move, 

 he knows at once what you are. My friend was 

 now coming unpleasantly near — indeed, he was 

 within twenty yards, so, just as he passed a tree, I 

 put a bullet fair into his chest, upon which he reeled 

 backwards and swerved off to one side, where Jame- 

 son, who had come up with his big rifle, saluted 

 him with a couple more balls. My elephant now 

 moved on again, so I went after him, leaving 

 Jameson to finish his. I killed mine about a mile 



