CHAP. xii. A JUNGLE TRIP. 339 



At length I reached the rising ground. The mo- 

 ment that I was discovered by them, the two largest 

 elephants came towards me, with their ears cocked and 

 their trunks raised. 



I waited for a second or two till they lowered their 

 trunks, which they presently did ; and taking a steady 

 shot with one of my doubled-barrelled No. 10 rifles, I 

 floored them both by a right and left. One, however, 

 immediately recovered, and, with the blood streaming 

 from his forehead, he turned and retreated with the 

 remainder of the herd at great speed through the high 

 grass. 



The chase required great caution. However, they 

 fortunately took to a part of the country where the 

 grass was not higher than my shoulders, and I could 

 thus see well over it. Through this, I managed to 

 keep within fifty yards of the herd, and I carried the 

 heavy four-ounce rifle, which I knew would give one 

 of them a benefit if he turned to charge. 



I was following the herd at this distance when 

 they suddenly halted, and the wounded elephant 

 turned quickly round, and charged with a right 

 good intention. He carried his head thrown back 

 in such a position that I could not get a fair shot, 

 but, nevertheless, the four-ounce ball stopped him, 

 and away he went again with the herd at full speed, 

 the blood gushing in streams from the wound in his 

 head. 



