chap. x. CAUGHT AT LAST. 233 



what I never wish to feel again while he was delibe- 

 rately hunting me up. Fortunately I had reserved 

 my fire until the rifle had almost touched him, for the 

 powder and smoke had nearly blinded him, and had 

 spoiled his acute power of scent. To my joy I heard 

 the rustling of the grass grow fainter ; again I heard 

 it at a still greater distance ; at' length it was gone ! 



At that time I thought that half my bones were 

 broken, as I was numbed from head to foot by the 

 force of the blow. His charge can only be compared 

 to a blow from a railway engine going at twenty miles 

 an hour. 



Not expecting to be able to move, I crept to my 

 hands and knees. To my delight there were no bones 

 broken, and with a feeling of thankfulness I stood 

 erect. I with difficulty reached a stream of water 

 near the spot, in which I bathed my leg, but in a few 

 minutes it swelled to the size of a man's waist. In this 

 spot everyone had congregated, and were loading 

 their guns, but the rogue had escaped. 



My cap and rifle were now hunted for, and they 

 were at length found near the spot where I had been 

 caught. The elephant had trodden on the stock of 

 the rifle, and it bears the marks of his foot to this day. 



In a few minutes I was unable to move. We there- 

 fore sent to the tent for the horses, and arrived at 6 P.M., 

 having had a hard day's work from 5 A.M. without 

 food. 



