400 ESCAPE FROM A TROOP OF ELEPHANTS. 



him with its jarring violence. Had my gun missed fire 

 when he charged, it is more than probable I should have 

 been imjpaled. 



Again : having on a certain night stalked- to within a 

 few paces of a huge white rhinoceros (a female as it proved), 

 I put a ball in her shoulder, but it nearly cost me dear; 

 for, guided by the flash of the gun, she rushed upon me with 

 such fury that I had only time to throw myself on my back, 

 in which position I remained motionless. This saved my 

 life ; for, not observing me, she came to a sudden halt just as 

 her feet were about to crush my body. She was so near to 

 me that I felt the saliva from her mouth trickle on my face ! 

 I was in an agony of suspense, though, happily, only for a 

 moment ; for, having impatiently sniffed the air, she wheeled 

 about, and made off at her utmost speed. I then saw, for 

 the first time, that her calf was in company, and at once 

 recognized the pair as old acquaintances, and as specially 

 vicious animals. 



On another occasion, when the night was very dark, I 

 crept to within a short distance of seven bull elephants, and 

 was endeavoring to pick out the largest, when I was startled 

 by a peculiar rumbling noise close behind me. Springing 

 to my feet, I perceived, to my surprise and alarm, a semi- 

 circle of female elephants, with their calves, bearing down 

 upon me. My position was critical, being between two fires, 

 so to say, and I had no other choice than either to plunge 

 into the pool, which could only be crossed by swimming, in 

 the face of the male elephants, or to break through the ranks 

 of the females. I adopted the latter alternative, but first 

 fired at the nearest of the seven bulls ; and then, and without 

 a moment's delay, I rushed on the more open rank of the 

 female phalanx, uttering, at the time, loud shouts. My cries 

 caused a momentary panic among the animals, of which I 

 took advantage and slipped out between them, discharging 

 my second barrel into the shoulder of the nearest as I passed 



