chaf. x. ANOTHER HERD. 239 



hill work, and I caught up an elephant and killed 

 him with the left-hand barrel. Getting a spare gun, 

 I was lucky enough to get between two elephants 

 who were running abreast towards the jungle, and I 

 bagged them by a right and left shot. Off went the 

 herd at a slapping pace through the jungle, V. pitching 

 it into them, but unfortunately to very little purpose, 

 as they had closed up and formed a barrier of sterns ; 

 thus we could not get a good shot. For about a 

 quarter of a mile I managed to hobble along, carried 

 away by the excitement of the chase, through jungles, 

 hollows, and small glades, till my leg, which had lost 

 all feeling, suddenly gave way, and I lay sprawling on 

 my face, incapable of going a step farther. I had 

 killed four elephants ; six had been killed altogether. 

 It was very bad luck, as the herd consisted of eleven ; 

 but the ground was very unfavourable, and my leg 

 gave way when it was most required. 



A few days after this, the tents were pitched on 

 the banks of the broad river of Pattapalaar, about 

 eight miles beyond Nielgalla. Elephants were very 

 scarce, and the only chance of getting them, was to 

 work hard. We were on horseback at break of day, 

 and having forded the river, we rode silently through 

 plain and forest in search of tracks. We refused every 

 shot at deer, lest we should disturb the country, and 

 scare away the elephants. 



We had ridden for some distance upon an elephant 



