76 STUDIES IN LIFE AND SENSE. 



resisted the ponderous blows which he almost incessantly directed 

 against them, but by 2 P.M. one of them was found to be started 

 from the massive cross beam into which it was mortised ; and as at 

 that time the animal still continued as violent as ever, serious fear 

 began to be entertained lest he should break out, in which event the 

 amount of damage or loss of life which he might occasion would 

 have been incalculable. In these circumstances, although the value 

 of the animal was at least i,ooo/., Mr. Cross at once determined on 

 having him destroyed, and after some consideration it was resolved to 

 give him some corrosive sublimate in a mess of hay. However, the 

 animal no sooner smelt the mixture than he rejected it, and it was 

 then determined to shoot him. Accordingly a messenger was sent 

 to Somerset House, where two soldiers were on guard, who, on a 

 suitable representation being made, were allowed to go over to the 

 menagerie, taking with them their muskets. Several rifle guns were 

 also obtained from different places in the neighbourhood and put 

 into the hands of such of the persons about the establishment as had 

 courage enough to remain in the room. In this manner, in all about 

 fourteen persons were armed, but before commencing operations it 

 was deemed prudent to secure the front of the den, by passing cords 

 around those bars against which the animal's violence had been princi- 

 pally directed. This having been done and the muskets loaded, 

 about a third of the party advanced to the front of the den till 

 within about five yards of the animal and discharged their pieces at 

 the tender part of the neck below the ear, and then immediately 

 retreated to a recess at the lower end of the room for the purpose of 

 reloading. The animal on finding himself wounded uttered a loud 

 and piercing groan, and advancing to the front of the den struck his 

 trunk several times with all his fury against the bars, another of which 

 he succeeded in forcing out of its place. Having thus exhausted his 

 fury, he became quiet, upon which another detachment of the party 

 approached his den, and after firing upon him, retired into the recess 

 as before ; the animal on receiving the fire plunged again most 

 violently against the front of the den, the door of which he actually 

 lifted from off its' uppermost hinges, but was prevented from getting 

 out by the strong manner in which the ropes bound the different bars 

 together. On his becoming more tranquil, preparations were made 

 for firing a third volley ; but no sooner were the muskets about to be 

 levelled, than the animal, as if conscious of their being the cause of 

 his wounds and also of the vulnerable parts against which they were 

 intended to be directed, turned sharp round and retreated into the 

 back of the den and hid his head between his shoulders. It hence 

 became necessary to rouse him by pricking him with spears, which 

 being effected, the muskets were discharged at him, and although 

 several balls evidently took effect in the neck on this as well as on the 



