A FOREHEAD SHOT. 25 



correct, for in front, and almost facing me, he stood. 

 A tremendous brute, taller and more bulky than any 

 we have killed, but his tusks, though massive, were 

 not long. It was easy to see that he was not in 

 an amiable frame of mind, for he was constantly 

 shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His 

 trunk also was everlastingly in motion, either to 

 drive the flies off or rub his side or neck, where he 

 had been bitten by the insects. Patiently and long 

 I waited, hoping for a broadside shot, till I became 

 tired of such inactivity, so resolved to see what a 

 ball would do in the centre of the forehead, the 

 distance between us being about twelve paces. 

 There was a perfect opening in the underbush, thus 

 no twig or bough could interfere with the course of 

 the bullet, so I took a steady aim and fired. The 

 moment I did so I ran several paces further to the 

 right, to get out of the hang of the smoke and learn 

 the result of my shot. It was scarcely what I 

 expected, for, instead of a dead elephant, there was 

 a very lively one indeed, rushing to and fro like a 

 mad bull, shrieking with rage and searching for his 

 foe in all possible places that an enemy could find 

 shelter. At this time I would have taken to 

 a tree, but could not find one large enough and 

 with branches sufficiently low down to suit my 

 purpose, so, taking Jim's advice, I hurried into 

 the forest at his heels, going as nearly as pos- 

 sible down wind. After running about ten rods 



