332 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON chap xn. 



within a mile of our proposed resting-place, when Ban- 

 da, who happened to be a hundred yards in advance, 

 came quickly back, saying that he saw a rogue ele- 

 phant feeding on the patina not far from us. Wortley 

 had gone in another direction with old Medima a few 

 minutes previous to look for a deer ; and Palliser and 

 I resolved to stalk him carefully. We therefore left 

 all the people behind, except two gun-bearers, each of 

 whom carried one of my double-barrelled rifles. I 

 carried my four-ounce, and Palliser took the two- 

 ounce. 



It was most difficult ground for stalking, being en- 

 tirely open, on a spot which had been high lemon grass 

 but recently burnt, the long reeds in many places still 

 remaining. 



We could not get nearer than fifty yards in such 

 ground, and I accordingly tried a shot at his temple 

 with the four-ounce. The long unburnt stalks of the 

 lemon grass waving to and fro before the sights of my 

 rifle so bothered me that I missed the fatal spot, and 

 fired about two inches too high. Stumbling only for 

 a moment from the blow, he rushed down hill towards 

 a jungle, but at the same instant Palliser made a 

 capital shot with the long two-ounce and knocked him 

 over. I never saw an elephant fall with such a crash : 

 they generally sink gently down ; but this fellow was 

 going at such speed down hill that he fairly pitched 

 upon his head 



