ELEPHANTS 



of about 30 yards diameter, surrounded by thick, thorny 

 scrub, except for a very small opening behind the elephant, 

 and the opening by which we had entered. We reconnoitred 

 from behind the scrub and I could not see my way to a 

 clear shot, so decided to walk very quietly into the open 

 hollow on the chance of getting in my shot before he 

 realised the danger. The moment, however, I appeared 

 in the open hollow the elephant, with a snort of surprise 

 and fear, turned round very quickly and made for the tiny 

 opening behind him previously mentioned. As he passed 

 me I fired into his ear, and such was the impetus of his 

 rush that it carried him fairly into the opening in the scrub, 

 where his fore- legs gave way and he came down full on his 

 head, his fore-legs bent underneath, his forehead being 

 absolutely flat on the ground, and his hind quarters remain- 

 ing erect on the hind tegs, tail standing up straight and stiff, 

 all on the quiver. 



I and Kanavathie ran up and easily saw he was not 

 dead. I tried all I knew to get past him to enable me to 

 get a shot at his head, but he so filled the opening, and the 

 undergrowth was such a dense mass of thorns, that I could 

 not manage it, so in desperation I fired into his stern, at 

 an angle, upwards, in the hope of breaking the spine near 

 the tail. This did not move him until a few seconds 

 after, when, as though wakened by an electric shock, he 

 got up and dashed into the bush, I after him. I was 

 very soon brought up, however, " with a round turn " by 

 almost running into the animal which had stopped and 

 turned to face me, so I fired hastily at its temple but 

 missed the fatal spot, upon which it turned to bolt again, 

 but as it turned I got my chance at the ear shot, and 

 dropped it dead with my second barrel. I made certain 

 of this one, anyhow, by promptly putting two more shots 



107 



