8 A RECKLESS PROCEEDING. 



ling noise, evidently made by the movement of some large 

 animal, was heard therein. Our doubts as to what it could 

 be were soon dispelled by finding the fresh droppings and 

 tracks, or "mullen," as the latter are there called, of wild 

 elephants, as well as by sundry snorts and rumbling sounds 

 which were now and again heard. Loading my gun with 

 bullets, and exchanging it with the Goorkha for the rifle, 

 we stole cautiously through the reeds towards the spot 

 whence the sound proceeded, and had not to go far ere I 

 discovered the head and big flapping ears of an elephant a 

 short distance from me. Suddenly detecting our presence, 

 the animal cocked forward its ears, whisked round in an in- 

 stant, and went crashing away through the reeds, followed by 

 two well-grown calves, of which I just caught a glimpse as 

 they disappeared. In my excitement I let drive at the old 

 one's stern, which foolish example was followed by my com- 

 panion. She merely gave a shrieking trumpet and continued 

 her flight. Had I then been more experienced in such 

 matters, I should have known the danger and folly, not to 

 mention the cruelty, of so reckless a proceeding ; and had it 

 chanced to have been a male, he might have made our position 

 rather hot. 



Thinking we had seen the last of the elephants, we had 

 cleared out of the reeds, and had been skirting along them 

 for some distance, when again we heard a tremendous crash- 

 ing amongst them. Each moment it grew louder as it rapidly 

 drew nearer. Either the injured elephant, or one of her 

 mates that we had not seen, was evidently making straight 

 for us, with the intention, we imagined, of resenting our rash 

 and random shots. The business now seemed about to as- 

 sume a more serious aspect, for we were in the open, and not 

 a tree of any size was near round which we might have 

 dodged the animal ; but the plucky little Goorkha stood firm 

 as a rock as he quietly whispered, " Look out, Sahib ! we'll 

 give it her in the head when it comes in sight." However, 



