296 KISKING A SHOT. 



At last Moloka dodged him round a tree, and re- 

 turned to where I stood. 



Knowing the young elephant could not get away, 

 and seeing at the same time that some difficulty was 

 likely to be experienced in capturing him, I went in 

 search of the remainder of my party, intending to cut 

 some bark and make ropes of it to secure the animal. 

 As I was returning a shot struck my ears, and on 

 reaching the spot, I had the mortification to find the 

 little one dead ; Chippootoola having shot it in the brain 

 to save his life — at least, so he said. I fear he would 

 not have been so plucky had it been a few feet higher. 

 I was very angry, and Moloka '^did not like it 

 much." 



It was now growing late, and being a long way from 

 camp, we deemed it advisable to make tracks in that 

 direction — our course leading either along the banks 

 of the river, or up its sandy bed. 



After an hour's walk, still pursuing my way along 

 the bank, I suddenly found myself close to a solitary 

 bull elephant. He was standing in some thick under- 

 wood, facing straight on to us, and not more than twenty- 

 five to thirty yards from me. As it was impossible 

 to get nearer to him without making him aware of 

 my presence, in consequence of the density of the 

 jungle he had selected for his retreat — and as the wind 

 would not permit of my attacking him from the rear — 

 1 saw there was nothing for it but to risk a shot at 

 that distance, which 1 knew was too great. Taking 

 a steady aim for the temple-shot I fired the rifle (Rigby 

 10), and the effect was that the elephant was knocked 



