134 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



with the distant crack of a bamboo, as the herd made 

 straight away, being the only thing to convince me 

 I had not been dreaming. I could not but think I had 

 made a muff of myself, and still I had held his head 

 straight, and sat still. In plain words, I had not been 

 more excited than I think was natural. The truth 

 is, I little knew what accurate shooting it takes to bag 

 elephants with one ball. Loading Purdey and Lan- 

 caster as fast as possible, we got on the track of the 

 last elephant, and running as hard as we could go, the 

 Panea and self, followed by the others at a respectful 

 distance. On we went on the great broad track. The 

 heat at this pace was suffocating. After running a 

 quarter of a mile, even in the hard condition I am now 

 in, made one feel done to a turn. Not so the jungle 

 man ; on he went, as if he was merely walking in the 

 coolest atmosphere. It was killing work, especially as 

 I thought I had thrown away such a chance. On we 

 struggled through thorns, swamps, and long reeds, up 

 hills and down them, and still no signs of the grand 

 great game. Disgusted, we were just going to cry, 

 * Hold, enough,' when a crash before us, and the back 

 of an elephant, made us fresh as paint. Perfectly 

 determined to do the trick this time, I glided before 

 the Panea, and beckoning him to follow, made quietly 

 and quickly off in a semicircle, so as to front the 

 animals, and force them to give me a deadly shot. It 

 paid well. I passed them, got before them, and keep- 

 ing well hid, stood a little to one side and waited. 

 Crash, crackle ! down went a bamboo, and straight up 

 to me strode, to my delight, the cow second wounded, 

 and followed by another. They had left the herd. 

 The wind was perfect ; no fear on that score. Silently 

 the two monsters passed me, the head of old Purdey 

 straight shining on the wounded one's head. Not 



