HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



The tusker had now joined the herd, which was a large 

 one, and, the ground being trampled over, we could not 

 distinguish his tracks. The wind was unfortunately bad 

 and blowing in all directions, and whilst we were looking 

 about among the elephants for the tusker they got our 

 wind and were off. We followed on for a long dis- 

 tance, and once more came up with the herd, which was 

 now scattered about. We went about cautiously looking 

 for the tusker but could not see him anywhere, and I 

 fancy he had taken a line of his own, which is often 

 the case, and gone off in some other direction. While 

 looking about I came on a huge elephant standing quite 

 by himself, on the outskirts of the herd. The jungle 

 was thick and I could only see his legs, when he heard 

 us and went off slowly, growling and ending up with a 

 scream. I knew at once that this meant mischief, and 

 that I had before me a rogue, such as often consorts 

 with a herd, but keeps just outside, and is of the worst 

 description to encounter. As he was a very fine beast, 

 and there seemed no chance of the tusker, I followed 

 him. He only went a short distance and pulled up, but 

 every time we got near went off growling and screaming 

 as before. At last he made a rush forward, and, thinking 

 he was off, I ran after him as well as I could through the 

 thick stuff, when suddenly there was a tremendous crash 

 and a vicious scream about 20 yards from me, and he 

 charged straight at me. I could see nothing but a mass 

 of creepers and jungle stuff bearing down on me, and had 

 to guess where his forehead was, and, firing into the mass, 

 I jumped behind two small trees which luckily happened 

 to be near me. The elephant came right up against 

 these trees, nearly shaking them down ; and, finding he 

 had not got me, tried to come round them. I put 



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