312 THE ELEPHANT. 



and therefore returned to my first post. With my 

 heavy rifle (carrying steel-pointed conical bullets, 

 three to the pound) ready poised in my hand, and 

 my double-barrelled smooth-bore ready cocked on 

 the ground beside me, I anxiously waited for a 

 chance to fire. I wanted him to move a step or 

 two forward, when I knew his shoulder must be 

 fully exposed. Suddenly he did so, and as quickly 

 I covered his heart the jungle re-echoing the next 

 instant with the explosion of twelve drachms of 

 Hall's best rifle-powder. The effect was deadly; 

 with a frightful rush forward; it was the most tre- 

 mendous plunge I ever witnessed by any wild 

 animal he fell prostrate within one hundred and 

 fifty yards of my ambush. 



Another elephant was evidently following on the 

 track of the stricken one. It is true I did not see 

 him, but inferred as much from the noise occasioned 

 by his flight, and, having quickly reloaded, I pur- 

 sued the fugitive. 



Suddenly, and when within less. 'than twenty 

 paces, I found myself in his presence: The beast 

 was partially facing me, his huge cnr^i spread like a 

 pair of studding-sails, giving a defiant/ and threaten- 

 ing air to his whole attitude. I did not, however, 

 hesitate, but fired at once at his shoulder, when lie 

 instantly betook himself to flight. My henchman, 

 becoming alarmed at the close proximity of the 



o i / 



gigantic creature, instead of handing me the spare 

 gun, also ran away. 



Reloading the rifle, I was soon oive more in pur- 

 suit, and had shortlv the satisfaction of again 



