ON THE KAMBUKENAAR RIVER. 175 



Ward, formed the central object in the Ceylon Court 

 at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition. 



The trackers advanced rapidly, we following with 

 some difficulty. At last the tracks became burning 

 fresh, and Sin 'Appu signed to us to uncase the rifles, 

 for mackintosh covers are a necessity in these damp 

 jungles. A short further advance was made, and then 

 it was obvious the herd were beyond a low ridge 

 covered with higher jungle, whence low rumblings 

 and breaking of branches were plainly audible. Sin 

 'Appu wormed himself up to the ridge, and returning 

 reported seven elephants, three just in front and the 

 rest rather to the right. We decided in whispers that 

 I should form the right attack, Will waiting till I gave 

 the signal. Sin 'Appu led me about sixty yards up, 

 and then we noiselessly ascended the crest. Before I 

 could drop behind a tree there I had seen an elephant, 

 and that so close to me that my heart beat quick. 

 Nothing strikes the beginner at this sport so vividly 

 as the nearness which is necessary for success, for 

 shooting at less than twenty yards' range is obviously 

 unfamiliar to all. In this case I could hardly believe 

 we were unseen, for it seemed to me I could almost 

 touch the great brute. It was a nice bull, and when 

 I saw it was standing carelessly flapping its ears. I 

 signed to Sin 'Appu to give the signal. He slipped 

 back to do so, while I raised my i2-bore. At the 

 report of Will's rifle I fired, but the bull only 

 staggered, and my second shot was ineffective. 

 Trumpeting loudly the herd crashed off in all directions. 

 I seized my second rifle and ran as hard as I could 



