20S THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. ix. 



its full length to catch me, and was now within two 

 feet of my back ; he was gaining on me, although I 

 was running at a tremendous pace. I could not screw 

 an inch more speed out of my legs, and I kept on, 

 with the brute gaining on me at every stride. He 

 was within a foot of me, and I had not heard a shot 

 fired, and not a soul had come to the rescue. The 

 sudden thought struck me that my brother could not 

 possibly overtake the elephant at the pace at which we 

 were going, and I immediately doubled short to my left 

 into the open plain, and back towards the guns. The 

 rogue overshot me. I met my brother close to his tail, 

 which position he had with difficulty maintained ; but 

 he could not get a shot, and the elephant turned into 

 the jungle, and disappeared just as I escaped him by a 

 sharp turn. This was a close shave ; had not the 

 ground been perfectly level I must have been caught 

 to a certainty, and even as it was, he would have had 

 me in another stride had I not turned from my 

 straight course. It was nearly dark, and we returned 

 to the tent, killing several peacocks and ducks on our 

 way, with which the country swarmed. 



We passed a miserable night, not being able to 

 sleep on account of the mosquitoes, which were in 

 swarms. I was delighted to see the first beam of 

 morning, when our little winged enemies left us, and 

 a ' chatty ' bath was most enjoyable after the restless 

 tossings of a sleepless night. The Moormen were out 



