350 THE ELEPHANT. 



moved off with considerable rapidity most hap- 

 pily without my having received other injuries 

 than a few bruises, occasioned by the falling of the 

 stones. Under Providence, I attribute my extra- 

 ordinary escape to the confusion of the animal, 

 caused by the wound I had inflicted on him, and to 

 the cries elicited from me when in my utmost peril. 



Immediately after the elephant had left me, I 

 was on my legs : and, snatching up a spare rifle 

 lying at hand, I pointed it at him as he was retreat- 

 ing, and pulled the trigger ; but, to my intense 

 mortification, the piece missed fire. It was matter 

 of thankfulness to me, however, that a similar mis- 

 hap had not occurred when the animal charged ; 

 for had not my gun then exploded, nothing, as I 

 conceive, could have saved me from destruction. 



During this scene, the rest of the elephants re- 

 treated into the bush ; but by the time I had 

 repaired my hiding-place they re-appeared, with 

 stealthy and cautious steps, on the opposite side 

 of the pool, though so distant that I could not fire 

 with any prospect of success. As they did not 

 approach nearer, I attempted to " stalk " them, but 

 they would not allow me to come to close quarters, 

 and, after awhile, moved off together. 



Whilst pondering over my late wonderful escape, 

 I observed, at a little distance, a huge white rhino- 

 ceros protruding its ponderous and mis-shapen head 

 through the bushes, and presently afterwards it ap- 

 proached to within a dozen paces of my ambuscade. 

 Its broadside was then fully exposed to view, and, 

 notwithstanding that I still felt a little nervous from 



