THE INDIAN ELEPHANT 



all we could do to bag an elephant which had been 

 floored, though I was armed with a double 4-bore 

 and a double 8-bore, and my friend with a double 

 eight, and though moreover the men stood firm. 

 The animal very nearly escaped us, and once, when 

 I was unloaded, he got well on to his legs, and I 

 thought that he was off, but fortunately a useful 

 shot from the judge dropped him again, though he 

 instantly began trying once more to rise. Even- 

 tually a bullet from the 4-bore reached his brain, 

 and he was ours. 



Elephants are usually found by following their 

 tracks, which is often not so easy an operation as 

 might be imagined. Frequently, if the ground be 

 hard and dry, only really good trackers can follow 

 the trail of a single animal. Generally speaking, 

 unless the object of pursuit should be found be- 

 tween 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on a hot day in which 

 case he will be standing nearly motionless in thick 

 cover the sportsman will hear him breaking 

 branches or bamboos, or flapping his ears, while 

 still some little way off; and directly he does so, he 

 must take every precaution to prevent the animal 

 getting his wind ; since, should the taint in the air 

 proclaim, to the brute's sensitive nasal organ, the 

 presence of man, he will either dash off alarmed, 

 or advance to attack. If the hunter should keep 

 the wind in his favour, an approach to within 

 twelve or fifteen paces can usually be made, and 

 this is the ideal range for elephant shooting. He 

 should keep on testing the wind when approach- 

 ing the game, as any inequalities in the ground 



215 



