322 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. xii. 



I felt convinced that some accident had happened. 

 ' Where are masters ? ' I shouted to the crowd of men, 

 and the next moment I was quite relieved by seeing 

 only a coolie lying on the ground. On examining 

 the man I found he was more frightened than hurt, 

 although he was cut in several places and much 

 bruised. 



Upon giving a shout, Palliser and Wortley returned 

 to the spot. They now explained the mystery. They 

 were running on the fresh tracks in this glade, no ele- 

 phants being then in sight, when they suddenly heard 

 a rush in the jungle, and in another instant two ele- 

 phants charged out upon them. Wortley and Pallisei 

 both fired, but without effect — the gun-bearers bolted, 

 — an elephant knocked one man over, and tried to 

 butt him against the ground ; but two more shots from 

 both Palliser and Wortley turned him ; they were im- 

 mediately obliged to run in their turn, as the other 

 elephant charged, and just grazed Palliser with his 

 trunk behind. Fortunately, they doubled short round, 

 instead of continuing a straight course, and the ele- 

 phants turned into the jungle. They followed them 

 for some little distance, but the jungles were so bad 

 that there was no chance, and they had returned when 

 I had shouted. 



The man who was hurt was obliged to be sup- 

 ported home. Two of the guns were lost, which 

 the gun-bearers in their fright had thrown away. 



