A SHOT WITH THE " GUMTICKLEE." 33 



feet high, I stopped to listen, and then discovered that 

 the elephants were in the long reeds between me and 

 the river. While passing on to head them I heard a 

 cap snap, — the big gun had missed fire ! Two ele- 

 phants came out directly opposite me into the open 

 space, and I lay down. They stood and surveyed the 

 country round, sniffing the air with uplifted trunks 

 in every direction. Fortunately for me the wind was 

 right, and in a few seconds they came on as straight 

 as possible. Having always heard that the African 

 elephant could not be killed by a single shot in the 

 head — a subject on which I had my doubts — I deter- 

 mined to try the experiment for my own satisfaction 

 the first opportunity that offered. I knew the guns 

 were good, and I only wanted to get close enough to 

 give them a fair trial. 



When they had come within eighteen yards of me, 

 both stopped, and had another look round and an- 

 other sniff. I was almost tempted to fire at this dis- 

 tance, the larger elephant offering me a splendid tem- 

 ple shot, but on second consideration I resolved to 

 wait. In another instant they came on again, still 

 quite straight. The native, who up to this time had 

 stood at my side trembling like an aspen leaf, now 

 " skedaddled " for the long grass, taking my gun with 

 him. Luckily, when he was perceived by the ele- 

 phants they were within about seven yards of me. 

 The moment they were alarmed they veered off to 

 the left, but instantly taking the largest in the tem- 

 ple as he passed me within five yards, I fired the 

 right barrel of '' the gumtickler " (smooth bore No. 9, 

 by Rigby, charge nine drachms, Curtis and Harvey), 



D 



