320 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON chap, xil 



them ; and the high grass stood up on either side 

 like a wail. 



Along this level road we ran at full speed, and by 

 great exertions managed to keep within twenty yards 

 of the game. Full a quarter of a mile was passed at 

 this pace without a shot being fired. At length one 

 elephant turned and faced about exactly in front of 

 me. My three double-barrelled rifles were now all 

 empty, and I was carrying the little No. 16 gun. I 

 killed him with the right-hand barrel, but I lost ground 

 by stopping to fire. 



A jungle lay about two hundred yards in front of 

 the herd, and they increased their speed to arrive at 

 this place of refuge. 



Giving the little gun, with one barrel still loaded, 

 to Wallace, I took the four- ounce rifle in exchange, 

 as I knew I could not close up with the herd before 

 they reached the jungle, and a long shot would be my 

 last chance. With this heavy gun (2 1 lbs.) I had hard 

 work to keep my distance, which was about forty 

 yards from the herd. 



Palliser and Wortley were before me, and within 

 twenty yards of the elephants. They neared the 

 jungle ; I therefore ran off to my left as fast as I could 

 go, so as to ensure a side-shot. I was just in time to 

 command their flank as the herd reached the jungle. 

 A narrow river, with steep banks of twenty feet in 

 height, bordered the edge, and I got a shot at a "large 



