chap. x. GOOD SPORT WITH A HERD. 249 



carefully ascended the hill, stepping from rock to rock 

 and occasionally concealing ourselves in the high grass, 

 till we at length stood at the very feet of the elephants, 

 two of whom were standing upon a large platform of 

 rock, about seven feet above us. They were so high 

 above us that I was obliged to aim about four inches 

 down the trunk, so that the ball should reach the brain 

 in an upward direction ; this shot proved successful, 

 and killed him. V., who had not taken this precaution, 

 missed ; and the whole herd of eight elephants started 

 off in full retreat. 



The rocks were so steep that it occupied some 

 time in climbing over the top of the hill ; upon reach- 

 ing which, we saw the elephants going off at great 

 speed, with a start of about two hundred paces. The 

 ground was perfectly open, covered by small loose 

 rocks free from grass, and the chase commenced in 

 good earnest. With the elephants in view the whole 

 time, and going at a great pace, a mile was run with- 

 out the possibility of firing a shot. By this time we 

 had arrived at an undulating country covered with 

 small rocks, and grass about four feet high, which 

 made the pace dreadfully fatiguing ; still we dared 

 not slacken the speed for an instant lest the elephants 

 should distance us. This was the time for rifles to 

 tell, although their weight (15 lbs.) was rather trying 

 in so long and fast a run. I was within eighty paces 

 Df the herd, and I could not decrease the distance by 



