234 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON. CHAP. x. 



On arrival at the tent we found Band a and the 

 trackers. 



There could not be a better exemplification of a 

 rogue than in this case. A short distance apart from 

 the herd, he had concealed himself in the jungle, from 

 which position he had witnessed the destruction of his 

 mates. He had not Stirred a foot until he saw us 

 totally unprepared, when he instantly seized the op- 

 portunity and dashed out upon me. If 1 had at- 

 tempted to run from him, I should have been killed, 

 as he would have struck me in the back ; my only 

 chance was in the course which I pursued — to wait 

 quietly until he was just over me, and then to jump 

 on one side ; he thus struck me on the thickest part 

 of the thigh instead of striking me in the stomach, 

 which he must have done had I remained in my first 

 position ; this would have killed me on the spot. 



I passed an uncomfortable night, my leg being 

 very painful and covered with wet bandages of vinegar 

 and water. The bruise came out from my ankle to 

 my hip ; the skin was broken where the tush had 

 struck me, and the blood had started under the skin 

 over a surface of nearly a foot, making the bruise a 

 bright purple, and giving the whole affair a most un- 

 pleasant appearance. The next morning I could not 

 move my leg, which felt like a sack of sand, and was 

 perfectly numbed ; however, I kept on a succession of 

 cold lotions, and after breakfast I was assisted upon 



