62 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap, iil 



flesh. I could not get a shot at the head from his 

 peculiar position, but I put a ball through his shoulders, 

 and immediately shoved the canoe astern. Had I not 

 done this, we should most likely have been upset, as 

 the wounded brute began to lash out with his tail in 

 all directions, till he at length retired to the bottom 

 among the rushes. Here I could easily track him, as 

 he slowly moved along, by the movement of the reeds. 

 Giving the native the paddle, I now by threats induced 

 him to keep the canoe over the very spot where the 

 rushes were moving, and we slowly followed on the 

 track, while I kept watch in the bow of the canoe with 

 a rifle. 



Suddenly the movement in the rushes ceased, and 

 the canoe stopped accordingly. I leaned slightly over 

 the side to look into the water, when up came a large 

 air-bubble, and directly afterwards an apparition in 

 the shape of some fifteen pounds of putrid flesh. The 

 stench was frightful, but I knew my friend must be 

 very bad down below to disgorge so sweet a morsel. 

 I therefore took the paddle and poked for him ; the 

 water being shallow, I felt him immediately. Again 

 the rushes moved ; I felt the paddle twist as his scaly 

 back glided under it, and a pair of gaping jaws ap- 

 peared above the water, wide open and within two feet 

 of the canoe. The next moment his head appeared, 

 and the two-ounce ball shattered his brain. He sank 



