228 THE TUSKER'S LAST EEEORT 



Kiikankote. The hunt had heen north hitlierto ; it was now to the soutli- 

 east. Kdkankote was six miles distant. I drew the Kurral)as' attention to 

 this, and said that the tusker evidently knew we should have to convey his 

 tusks and head to the bungalow presently, and that we should never be 

 able to manage it if lie was so disobliging as to die far off. This sally 

 pleased these simple aborigines, who have tlie imperturbable good-humour 

 and easily-excited risible faculties of wild tribes generally. 



We were astonislied at the distance the elephant still went — about four 

 miles. He had also kept up the pace, as we saw by his footprints. Tlie 

 recent encounter seemed to have acted as a refresher to his flagging ener- 

 gies. However, we felt certain of him ; and this part of a hunt, when the 

 result is no longer doubtful, and whilst excitement and anticipation are still 

 at their height, is the quintessence of a sportsman's enjoyment. 



We at last came to the stream on the banks of which we had encoun- 

 tered the elephant about three hours before, and at nearly the same spot. 

 He had crossed it after drinking at a pool under the bank, which I knew 

 would soon affect him seriously, with his body-wound ; but still lie had 

 ascended the bank where it was very steep, and up which I found consider- 

 able difficulty in following, as my right leg and left shoulder were painful 

 with my fall. But this was the gallant beast's last effort. The Kurrabas 

 had foretold the probability of our finding him near the stream, as he would 

 have to ascend rising ground if he still held on on the other side. Llore- 

 over, indications had not been wanting in the last few hundred yards that 

 his bolt was nearly shot. 



The leading trackers shortly found him close ahead, and came back to 

 say that he appeared quite done. Bussava, my two gun-bearers, and I again 

 advanced. Tlie elephant was standing near a salt-lick to which elephants, 

 bison, and game of all kinds, were in the habit of resorting to eat the earth, 

 which is impregnated with soda. He was facing a perpendicular bank into 

 which he had driven his tusks, and now stood leaning upon them in his 

 weariness. Poor beast ! I crept up to within fifteen yards, and killed 

 him with the 4-bore through his brain. He rolled heavily over, and (uir 

 hunt was ended. 



After the momentary exultation was past, 1 tliuught ivgretfuHv of the 

 noble life which I had sacrificed to afford the pleasure of a few hours' mad 

 excitement. The beast to whom nature had given so noble a life ; which 

 had roamed these grand solitudes for probably not less than a liuiulivd years ; 

 that may have visited the spot on which it now died half a century before 

 AVaterloo was fought, and which but for me might have lived for half a cen- 

 tury more, — lay bleeding and still quivering l)ofore me, deprived of its hannless 



