72 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



at six feet from the spot where I stood. The ball was 

 in the centre of her forehead, and B., who had fired 

 over my shoulder so instantaneously with me that I 

 was not aware of it, had placed his ball within three 

 inches of mine. Had she been missed I should have 

 fired my last shot. 



This had been a glorious hunt; many miles had 

 been gone over, but by great luck, when the wind 

 dropped and the elephant altered her course, she had 

 been making a circuit for the very field of korrakan at 

 which we had first found her. We were thus not more 

 than three miles from our resting-place, and the trackers, 

 who know every inch of the country, soon brought us 

 to the main road. 



The poonchy and the bull elephant, having both 

 separated from the female, escaped. 



One great cause of danger in shooting in thick jun- 

 gles is the obscurity occasioned by the smoke of the 

 first barrel ; this cannot escape from the surrounding 

 bushes for some time, and effectually' prevents a cer- 

 tain aim with the remaining barrel. In wet weather 

 this is much increased. 



For my own part I dislike shooting in thick jungles, 

 and I very seldom do so. It is extremely dangerous, 

 and is like shooting in the dark ; you never see the 

 game until you can almost touch it, and the labor and 

 pain of following up elephants through thorny jungle 

 is beyond description. 



On our return to the post-holder's hut we dined and 

 prepared for sleep. It was a calm night, and not a 

 sound disturbed the stillness of the air. The tired 

 coolies and servants were fast asleep, the lamp burnt 

 dimly, being scantily fed with oil, and we were in the 



