A SET-TO WITH THE ELEPHANT. 227 



of subjecting so grand and harmless a creature to unnecessary pain must 

 make every sportsman shun it. 



The elephant at last stopped, and in another moment was swinging- 

 round, the picture of rage. He had got our wind, and I have no doubt 

 would have charged back in another moment, but as he showed his full 

 broadside I fired at his shoulder, as he was too unsteady to afford me a 

 certain head-shot. There must have been something the matter with my 

 4-bore, for it kicked most unmercifully, and nearly sent me on my back ; 

 but it did more for the elephant, as it knocked him completely over like a 

 rabbit. This shot, I subsequently found, struck him high in the shoulder. 



The elephant quickly regained his feet, whilst I endeavoured in haste 

 to withdraw the exploded cartridge of the 4-bore, which was a single barrel. 

 The heavy charge of powder had so expanded it that I was unable to 

 extract it, whilst the elephant made across to our right. Seizing my 

 1 2 - bore Greener rifle, which was loaded with 6 drams and hardened 

 bullets, I ran to get a side-shot, but was rather startled by the elephant's 

 suddenly pulling up and facing almost directly towards me. I took two 

 rapid shots right and left at his temple, but failed to floor him. He only 

 recoiled at each shot, but still stood his ground. I do not believe he was 

 looking for us, but that he was utterly stunned and stupefied by the heavy 

 blows he was receiving. I took my last spare rifle (16-bore Purdey) and 

 fired a third unsuccessful shot. I now only had one loaded barrel, and I 

 reserved it, as I expected every moment that the elephant would discover 

 us. "We were behind a tree, and I determined if he charged to let him get 

 to within a couple of yards of the muzzle before firing, when by a general 

 bolt we might have escaped in the confusion. I admired the conduct of my 

 second gun-bearer, Birram, a young and promising pupil in the gun-bearing 

 line, who, though quite new to this style of work, was on his knees at my 

 feet behind the tree, trying with his teeth to extract the 4-bore cartridge, 

 paying all his attention to his duty, and not even looking at the elephant. 

 At last he got the cartridge out, and I rammed in another, at the moment 

 that the tusker started off again at a swinging pace. In hurrying after 

 him I fell over a log in the grass, and as I was running as fast as I could, 

 and carrying a 16|-lb. rifle, I got a heavy fall. For the moment I felt 

 quite stunned, and imagined half the bones in my body must be broken. 

 As I lay sprawling I thought how I should fare if the elephant turned upon 

 me ! I could not after this carry my own rifle, and had some difficulty in 

 hobbling along at the pace the trackers went. 



The elephant had changed his course from the line he had been steering 

 before the second encounter, and was now heading back again towards 



