Further Experiences with Elephant 



It was now about midday, and I had recovered 

 my breath, so we went in pursuit. There was 

 nothing of an untoward nature to fear now, as 

 any outlying animal would have got our wind or 

 heard the noise made by the infuriated cow long 

 since and joined in our pursuit. 



There, sure enough, were several great big 

 bulls, but no tusks worth having. My informant, 

 whom I knew didn't lie, insisted that there was 

 a topper in the herd, so we moved gradually on 

 in their wake, in and out amongst the trees, first 

 one elephant appearing, and then moving off 

 quietly to be replaced by another, till the furthest 

 of a batch of six showed himself; then I saw 

 that the orderly had not misinformed me. 



He was better than any I had shot up to date, 

 and evidently the patriarch of the herd. It was 

 difficult to get a shot at him, as he was so sur- 

 rounded by his friends ; but at last he came out 

 broadside on and gave me the head shot, which 

 was at once taken advantage of. He fell to the 

 shot, and lay struggling on the ground trying to 

 get up. Immediately pandemonium ensued ; and 

 whilst I was reloading I distinctly saw two bulls 

 sever themselves from the remainder, and, stand- 

 ing one on each side of him, pick him up and 

 help him off as he staggered along, throwing his 

 weight first on one and then on the other. How- 

 ever, at about thirty yards I managed to hit him 

 twice near the tail with my heavy cordite rifle, 



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