CHAr. ix A CLOSE SHAVE. 207 



ourselves concealed. He was about eighty yards ofl 

 when he commenced his onset ; and seeing that we 

 were discovered, I left the hiding-place, and stepped 

 to the front of the bush to meet him with the four- 

 ounce rifle. On he came at a great pace, carrying his 

 head very high, and making me the sole object of his 

 attack. I made certain of the shot, although his head 

 was in a difficult position, and I accordingly waited for 

 him till he was within fifteen paces. At this distance 

 I took a steady shot and fired. A cloud of smoke, 

 from the heavy charge of powder, obscured everything, 

 but I felt so certain that he was down, that I looked 

 under the smoke to see where he lay. Ye gods ! He 

 was just over me in full charge ! I had not even 

 checked him by the shot, and he was within three 

 feet of me, going at a tremendous pace. Throwing 

 my heavy rifle into the bush, I doubled quickly to one 

 side, hoping that he would pass me and take to the 

 main jungle, to which I ran parallel as fast as my legs 

 could carry me. Instead of taking to the jungle, he 

 turned short and quickly after me, and a fair race com- 

 menced. I had about three feet start of him, and I saw 

 with delight that the ground was as level and smooth 

 as a lawn ; there was no fear of tripping up, and away 

 I went at the fastest pace that I ever ran either before 

 or since, taking a look behind me to see how the chase 

 went on. I saw the bullet-mark in his forehead, which 

 was covered with blood ; his trunk was stretched to 



