14 



FOX-HOUXD, FOREST, AND PRAIRIE. 



over the harder parts of the forest, till we finally lost all trace 

 of him on some dry hilly ground. Thinking, however, that he 

 might have crossed this and entered some fine swampy jungle 

 on the other si'cle, we skirted the rising ground, and soon hit off 

 a very fresh track leading into the jungle, and which we supposed 

 to be that of our friend of the night before. We had not followed 

 this up for more than 100 yards before we heard an elephant 

 close in front of us, and a few yards further brought C. in sight 

 of him. At this time 1 was about ten yards on his left, trying 

 to get a view through the thick mass of thorns and rushes. C. 

 whispered to me, "Here he is," but before I could join him the 

 gaja had heard or scented us and was moving off, which obliged 

 C. to fire as quick as he could. The ball, striking him on the 

 side of the head and passing round, was, we found afterwards, 

 left sticking in the skin, just below the opposite eye. He was 



a royal brute, and round he came to the shot, charging right 

 into us, till every moment I expected to see his huge head 

 within a yard from out of the wall of thick rushes, fee., which 

 surrounded us ; but missing us he came right out on my gun- 

 bearer, who, instead of being close behind me, as he ought to 



