3So THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. xii. 



The herd winded us just as we were approaching 

 up the steep ascent of the rocky stream, and they made 

 a rush across the bed of the torrent to gain the thick 

 jungle on the opposite bank. Banda immediately 

 beckoned to me to come into the jungle with the 

 intention of meeting the elephants as they entered, 

 while Palliser was to command the narrow passage, 

 in which there was only space for one person to shoot, 

 without confusion. 



In the mean time, Palliser knocked over three 

 elephants as they crossed the stream, while we, on 

 reaching the thick jungle, found it so dense that we 

 could see nothing. Just as we were thinking of re- 

 turning again to the spot that we had left, we heard a 

 tremendous rush in the bush, coming straight to- 

 wards us. In another instant I saw a mass of twisted 

 and matted thorns crashing in a heap upon me. I had 

 barely time to jump on one side, as the elephant nearly 

 grazed me, and I fired both barrels into the tangled 

 mass that he bore upon his head. I then bolted, and 

 took up a good position at a few yards' distance. The 

 shots in the head had so completely stunned the ele- 

 phant that she could not move. She now stood in 

 a piece of jungle so dense that we could not see 

 her, and Palliser creeping up to her, while we stood 

 ready to back him, fired three shots without the least 

 effect. She did not even move, being senseless with 

 the wound. One of my men then gave him my four- 



