THE elephant's DEATH-WARRANT. 297 



down, but being only stunned for a moment was 

 up again quickly, and immediately charged Chip- 

 pootoola, passing within fifteen yards of me. As he 

 did so I gave him the other barrel behind the ear, 

 and knocked him down; but the shot, which was 

 a running one, was not well placed, and it was 

 soon evident that the animal was fast recovering, as he 

 commenced lashing his trunk to and fro, and I had 

 scarcely taken the gumtickler from Moloka when he 

 was on his feet again, and charging a large clump of 

 shrubs. In the centre of this clump stood a good-sized 

 tree, which was borne down before his impetuous 

 onset. Directly he reached the other side he 

 stood still, roaring and trumpeting. It was evi- 

 dent he did not know in what direction to look 

 for us, as all save Moloka had concealed them- 

 selves ; the latter as usual standing by my side. 

 I at once commenced to approach the animal, and 

 had got to within eight yards of his hind quarters 

 when he turned the least bit to the right, and gave 

 an angry roar that shook the marrow in every bone 

 of my body, and almost made the ground tremble 

 under me. In making this change of position, he 

 sealed his own death-warrant, for he gave the gum- 

 tickler a chance behind the ear, which was speedily 

 taken advantage of, and the angry monster fell to rise 

 no more. 



Moloka, having quietly repeated his favourite re- 

 mark regarding the total extermination of all the ele- 

 phants in Africa, cried " WafFa ! wafFa !" and the party 

 Avas soon assembled round the prize. It was a 



