SUCCESSFUL SHOTS. 197 



that they were standing in a crescent, and that the 

 right hand one was the one to which I was so close, I 

 went down on my hands and knees, and moved cau- 

 tiously a few yards to my left. Looking round as I 

 did so, I observed Moloka like a snake in my wake, 

 but Chinsoro and the other man had disappeared. 

 My other two guns were gone ! However, there 

 was no room for retreat. I knew Moloka had the 

 infallible gumtickler, and I felt I could depend on 

 him. Surely the man who but a short time since 

 had said, '' If master die Moloka die too," would not 

 desert me now ! Slowly raising my head, I at once 

 saw the state of things. Within fourteen yards of my 

 right stood one of the herd, three parts on to me. 

 Another was a few yards on his right, and within 

 the same distance. Two were standing straight on 

 to me, about fifteen yards off, and directly in front, 

 while the fifth was within twelve yards of my left, 

 with its back towards me. Raising myself quickly to 

 my full height, I dropped the elephant on my ex- 

 treme right with the temple shot, and the second 

 barrel played a similar game with the one next him. 

 In an instant the faithful Moloka thrust the gum- 

 tickler into my hands. At that moment the elephant 

 on my extreme left, thunderstruck at the sudden row, 

 turned round to see what was the cause of it. The 

 gumtickler roared, and the huge beast fell, shot in the 

 brain through the forehead, a little below the level of 

 the ear. Moving, as I lowered the gun, to get clear 

 of the smoke from such a large charge, which hung 

 in the still atmosphere, I perceived one of the two 

 elephants which I knew were in front of me, in full 



