210 The Rifle and Hound in Ceylon. 



high grass that we got within four paces of them before 

 they discovered us ; they cocked their ears for an 

 instant, and both rolled over at the same moment to the 

 front shot. Away dashed the herd, trumpeting and 

 sci-eaming as they rushed through the high grass. For 

 a few moments my game leg grew quite lively, as it was 

 all down-hill work, and I caught up to an elephant and 

 killed him with the left-hand barrel. Getting a spare 

 gun, I was lucky enough to get between two elephants 

 who were running abreast toward the jungle, and I 

 bagged them by a right and left shot. Off went the 

 herd at a slapping pace through the jungle, V. pitching 

 it into them, but unfortunately to very little purpose, as 

 they had closed up and formed a barrier of sterns, and 

 we could not get a good shot. For about a quarter of 

 a mile I managed to hobble along, carried away by the 

 excitement of the chase, through jungles, hollows and 

 small glades, till my leg, which had lost all feeling, 

 suddenly gave way, and I lay sprawling on my face, 

 incapable of going a step farther. I had killed four 

 elephants : six had been killed altogether. It was very 

 bad luck, as the herd consisted of eleven ; but the 

 ground was very unfavorable, and my leg gave way 

 when it was most required. 



A few days after this, the tents were pitched on the 

 banks of the broad river of Pattapalaar, about eight 

 miles beyond Nielgalla. Elephants were very scarce, 

 and the only chance of getting them was to work hard. 

 We were on horseback at break of day, and having 

 forded the river, we rode silently through plain and 

 forest in search of tracks. We refused every shot at 

 deer, lest we should disturb the country and scare away 

 the elephants. 



