198 ACCIDENT TO GUMTICKLER. 



charge with coiled trunk. I knew I had but one shot 

 left, and I determined to let him get close before 

 firing. However, I overshot the mark. a little, for as 

 I fired, having aimed at the forehead, straight for the 

 brain, I was suddenly sent head over heels, and the 

 gun flew from my hands. For a moment I fancied all 

 was up, but as soon as I could recover myself I sat 

 up, and saw the monster prostrate wdthin a couple of 

 yards of me, his tusks buried deep in the soil. 



I often still laugh when I remember how I ex- 

 amined my legs and arms, especially my right arm, 

 to see if there were any broken bones ; but, thank 

 goodness ! all proved sound. Moloka assisted to lift 

 me on my legs again, having previously picked up the 

 gun; but, alas! the stock of the favourite was smashed 

 in two. 



On going up to the animal I found the bullet hole in 

 the right place, and about tw^o inches above it the 

 gauge of the gumtickler was stamped on his forehead, 

 the hair as well as the skin bemg fairly cut against 

 the muzzle of the great gun by the force of the blow. 

 I discovered that I had let him come too close, hav- 

 ing probably misjudged the impetus of his charge, 

 and that ere I had time to lower the gun he fell, 

 though dead, against it, and thus bowled me over, 

 and broke my favourite weapon. It was a narrow 

 shave indeed, but I was gradually becoming accus- 

 tomed to accidents of this sort. 



Moloka actually cried over the broken stock ! I 

 soon found that I was unable to lift my right arm 

 above my head, and that I had sustained one or two 

 other slight bruises. 



The remaining elephant luckily bolted straight 



