134 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. vi. 



big rifle, I dismounted and crept cautiously towards 

 him. He winded me before I had gone many paces, 

 gave a shrill trumpet of alarm, and started off for the 

 jungle ; the rest of the herd vanished like magic, while 

 I ran after the bull elephant at my best speed. He 

 was too quick for me, and I could not gain upon him, 

 so, halting suddenly, I took a steady shot at his ear 

 with the four-ounce at about seventy yards. Down 

 he went to the shot, but I heard him roar as he lay 

 upon the ground, and I knew he would be up again 

 in a moment. In the same instant, as I dropped my 

 empty rifle, a double-barrelled gun was pushed into 

 my hand, and I ran up to him, just in time to catch 

 him as he was half risen. Feeling sure of him, I ran 

 up within two yards of his head and fired into his 

 forehead. To my amazement he jumped quickly up, 

 and with a loud trumpet he rushed towards the jungle. 

 I could just keep close alongside him, as the grass was 

 short and the ground level, and being determined to get 

 him, I ran close to his shoulder, and, taking a steady 

 shot behind the ear, I fired my remaining barrel. 

 Judge of my surprise ! — it only increased his speed, 

 and in another moment he reached the jungle : he 

 was gone. He seemed to bear a charmed life. I had 

 taken two shots within a few feet of him that I would 

 have staked my life upon. I looked at my gun. Ye 

 gods ! I had been firing snipe shot at him. It was 

 my rascally horse-keeper, who had actually handed me 



