238 THE RIFLE AND HOUND TN CEYLON, chap. x. 



but located in the everlasting lemon grass. At this 

 time the greater portion of the Park was a mass of 

 this abominable grass, and there was no chance of 

 getting the elephants in any other position, this serving 

 them at the same time for both food and shelter. 

 How they can eat it is a puzzle ; it is as sharp as a 

 knife, and as coarse as a file, with a flavour of the 

 most pungent lemon peel. 



We shortly arrived at the spot in which the herd 

 was concealed ; it was a gentle slope covered with 

 dense lemon grass, terminated by a jungle. We could 

 just distinguish the tops of the elephants' heads in 

 several places, and, having dismounted, we carefully 

 entered the grass, and crept towards the nearest 

 elephants The herd was much scattered, but there 

 were five elephants close to each other, and we made 

 towards these, Banda leading the way. My only chance 

 of making a bag lay in the first onset; I therefore 

 cautioned Wallace to have the spare guns handed 

 with extra diligence, and we crept up to our game. 

 There were two elephants facing us, but we stalked 

 them so carefully through the high grass that we got 

 within four paces of them before they discovered us ; 

 they cocked their ears for an instant, and both rolled 

 over at the same moment to the front shot. Away 

 dashed the herd, trumpeting and screaming as they 

 rushed through the high grass. For a few moments 

 my game leg grew quite lively, as it was all down- 



