92 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. v. 



ears, and, throwing their trunks high in the air, they 

 endeavoured 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 unseen enemy, two more shots in quick succession 

 from the old quarter decided their opinion, and they 

 stalked proudly through the water towards the shore. 



Our satisfaction was great, but the delight of the 

 elephant-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 sink- 

 ing 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, &c, 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 prevented the bearer 

 from leaving us behind, 



What added materially to the annoyance of losing 



