DEJECTION—CONSOLATION. 215 



phants passed the bamboo-clump like a pair of runaway locomotives, and 

 thence went off at full speed in different directions, not heeding the Kurra- 

 bas, and utterly scared by the suddenness of our attack. 



"What an instantaneous transformation of scene in that dark and silent 

 jungle had the drawing of a trigger effected ! The change from placidly 

 browsing elephants to madly fleeing ones, from hiding Kurrabas to men 

 going for dear life, was as ludicrous as it was sudden ; and when the run- 

 aways came back after their unnecessary display of agility, we all had a 

 quiet laugh over the occurrence. Bettay said that for his part he considered 

 it was in consideration of some good deeds that he must have done in his 

 former life,"'' 5- that he had been favoured to witness so goodly a sight. 



As often happens in shooting big game of all kinds, especially elephants, 

 which are generally attacked at very close quarters, these two animals had 

 set off instantly on the terrible alarm, without waiting to ascertain the nature 

 of the danger, or whence it came. They had even rushed through the cloud 

 of smoke in their headlong flight. The intentions of wild animals are often 

 misinterpreted by the inexperienced, and a precipitate flight of this kind in 

 the direction of the sportsman may be construed into a determined charge. 



The rogue had a very moderate pair of tusks, as I found some months 

 afterwards when I killed him ; but of course they appeared to us to be 

 splendid specimens now we had lost him ! I had aimed too high, as I was 

 then but imperfectly acquainted with the structure of an elephant's head, and 

 the ball had passed above the brain. There was a thick blood-trail, in two 

 distinct lines, showing that the bullet had gone through the elephant's 

 cranium ; but it did not continue far, as is usually the case with wounded 

 elephants. 



I think I never in my life felt so disappointed. I had left Mysore in 

 the hope of speedily returning in the proud role of the successful rogue- 

 slayer. Myself and men had been drenched to the skin, and starved all 

 day, in persevering in the chase — circumstances which, though cheerfully 

 overlooked during the excitement of the hunt, now forced themselves unpleas- 

 antly upon our attention. I suddenly recollected how hurtful a thorough 

 drenching is in a malarious locality, and how extremely likely to be followed 

 by an attack of jungle-fever. To add to our discomfiture we were miles 

 from home, to reach which our powers of walking and wading would be 

 severely tried. Life had suddenly become a blank ! I should never smile 

 again ! 



How astonishing are the changes of mood induced by surroundings ! 

 Seated by the camp-fire a few hours later, after a bath, a good dinner, and 



* The Hindoo idea of a former state of existence. 



