ELEPHANT SHOOTING 



In the first place, I was in error in supposing 

 that the animal was staring at me before I fired at 

 him, and in firing hastily in consequence of that 

 supposition. Then, directly the elephant fell, the 

 crash with which he came down should have led 

 me to suspect, had I had experience, that he was 

 not brained, while the moving of his legs as he lay 

 would also have afforded conclusive proof of this 

 fact. I ought, of course, to have gone up to within 

 twelve or fifteen paces before firing, and, having 

 floored the elephant, to have run in close to his 

 head, and endeavoured to brain him before he could 

 regain his legs. 



After this I wounded and lost several elephants, 

 and it was not until the 24th August in the same 

 year (1882) that I succeeded in bagging my first. 



MY FIRST ELEPHANT 



In the Berrambadie forest in Mysore, I was 

 following up a herd of bison, out of which I had 

 already bagged one, when I saw an elephant walk- 

 ing rapidly along in front. The wind was right, 

 and I followed him, waiting for a chance. Pre- 

 sently I heard the Noogoo river in front, and felt 

 sure that the elephant would halt there, nor was I 

 disappointed, for, on topping the bank, I saw him 

 standing in the stream, and throwing water over 

 himself. I took the shot behind the ear, and the 

 elephant fell, but was not shot dead, for he tried to 

 recover his footing, and as his head bobbed past me 



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