xiv THE BUFFALO 277 



when an accident might occur which would be obviated by the 

 possession of a second barrel. I once had an unmistakable 

 reminder, which I never forgot. 



The heavy 3-oz. rifle had been so great an ally, that I regarded 

 it as invincible. Instead of remaining satisfied, I attempted a fresh 

 improvement, and I had a 4-oz. mould that produced a sharp-pointed 

 cone, instead of the original spherical but belted ball. In actual 

 practice the rifle was not so powerful, as the shock upon impact 

 was reduced by the pointed projectile, and was inferior to the larger 

 surface of a hemisphere. The pointed bullet did not produce the 

 same knock-down blow, and it was deflected from a direct course if 

 it struck a bone. 



I was loaded with this new bullet upon one occasion when a 

 very large rogue elephant was grazing in a lake, and we resolved if 

 possible to shoot it. The lake was several miles in circumference, 

 and was, as usual, surrounded by open grass-land, backed by the 

 thickest jungle. In one locality there was a patch of perhaps two 

 or three acres of the densest thicket, growing partly in the water, 

 and forming an isolated jungle separated only by about 100 yards 

 of turf-like grass from the main body of the forest. If we could 

 manage to place the guns behind some favourable bushes for con- 

 cealment, close to the main jungle, and then drive the elephant into 

 the isolated patch, it would probably march straight through, and 

 expose itself to a steady shot at close quarters, from the hidden 

 guns. 



My brother was my companion, and having taken our places, 

 we sent the men round to disturb the elephant, and to drive it, if 

 possible, in our direction. 



I was concealed behind a bush, only a few yards in front of the 

 jungle behind me, and about 90 yards from the isolated patch, into 

 which we expected the elephant to be driven. 



The beaters were thoroughly experienced, the wind was favour- 

 able, and in a short time the heavy splashing in the water warned 

 us that the elephant had retreated from the lake into the clump of 

 bush, exactly as we had expected. The beaters closed up, but 

 nothing moved. 



There was no doubt that the rogue was there, but the difficulty 

 had commenced. Who was to drive it out 1 The soil was muddy, 

 and the men could not move quickly, therefore they refused to 

 venture within the thorny bush, where escape would have been 

 impossible. I gave the men a gun, and ordered them to commence 

 at the rear of the isolated patch, to fire several shots, to shout, and 

 by these means to drive the elephant in the required direction. 



