88 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



catchers were delighted with the idea, and we patiently 

 awaited the result. About a quarter of an hour passed 

 away, when we suddenly saw a puff of white smoke 

 spring from the green rushes at the point of the sand- 

 bank. A few moments after we heard the report of 

 the gun, and we saw the ball splash in the water close 

 to the elephants. They immediately cocked their ears, 

 and throwing their trunks high in the air, they en- 

 deavored to wind the enemy ; but they did not move, 

 and they shortly again commenced feeding upon the 

 water-lilies. Another shot from the same place once 

 more disturbed them, and, while they winded the un- 

 seen enemy, two more shots in quick succession from 

 the old quarter decided their opinion, and they stalked 

 proudly through the water toward the shore. 



Our satisfaction was great, but the delight of the ele- 

 phant-catchers knew no bounds. Away they started 

 along the shores of the lake, hopping from root to root, 

 skipping through the mud, which was more than a foot 

 deep, their light forms hardly sinking in the tough surface. 

 A nine-stone man certainly has an advantage over one 

 of twelve in this ground ; added to this, I was carrying 

 the long two-ounce rifle of sixteen pounds, which, with 

 ammunition, etc., made up about thirteen and a half 

 stone, in deep stiff clay. I was literally half-way up 

 the calf of my leg in mud at every step, while these 

 light, naked fellows tripped like snipe over the sodden 

 ground. Vainly I called upon them to go easily ; their 

 moment of excitement was at its full pitch, and they 

 were soon out of sight among the trees and underwood, 

 taking all the spare guns, except the four-ounce rifle, 

 which, weighing twenty-one pounds, effectually pre- 

 vented the bearer from leaving us behind. 



