Astonishing the Natives. 81 



His attention was completely absorbed in a luxu- 

 rious repast upon a bed of the succulent lotus. He 

 tore up bunches of the broad leaves and snaky stalks, 

 and, washing them carefully with his trunk, he crushed 

 the juicy stems, stuffing the tangled mass into his 

 mouth as a savage would eat macaroni. Round 

 swung his head once more, the ear flapped, the mark 

 was exposed, but the ear again concealed it just as I 

 had raised the rifle. This happened several times, but 

 I waited patiently for a good chance, being prepared 

 for a run the moment after firing. 



Once more his head swung toward me ; the sun 

 shone full upon him, and I raised the rifle to be ready 

 for him if he gave me the chance. His ear flapped 

 forward just as his head was at a proper angle for a 

 shot. The mark shone brightly along the sights of the 

 rifle as I took a steady aim, and the answer to the re- 

 port of the gun was a dull splash. 



He had sunk upon his knees stone dead. I could 

 hardly believe my eyes. The sight of so large an ani- 

 mal being killed at such a distance by one shot had an 

 extraordinary effect. I heard a heathenish scream of 

 joy behind me, and upon turning round I perceived 

 the now courageous gun-bearers running toward me 

 at their best pace. They were two of the Topari 

 villagers, and had been perfectly aghast at the idea of 

 one person, 'with only one single-barreled rifle, attack- 

 ing a tank rogue in the open plain. The sequel had 

 turned their fear into astonishment. They now had the 

 laugh at me, however, as they swam fearlessly up to 

 the dead elephant to cut off his tail, which I would not 

 have done for any reward, for fear of crocodiles, which 

 abound in the tank. The ball had struck the white 



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