48 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



larger, I let fly. A shriek and a headlong charge was the 

 result Lutchmie spun round like a teetotum and went off at 

 her best pace. I had just time to turn round and fire as the 

 rhinoceros' nose was within a foot of my elephant's posterior. 

 I was using a muzzle-loader a double, two-groove No. 10 

 rifle by Joseph Lang, the bullets hardened with a mixture of 

 quicksilver. The bullet entered the back and passed out at the 

 belly and floored my antagonist, but the row she kicked up 

 frightened Lutchmie to such an extent that although I got 

 her to go back, the least movement on the part of the mortally 

 wounded beast made her scamper, and correct shooting was 

 impossible. I knew the beast could not survive, and not 

 wishing to get my elephant cut, I left her and made the best 

 of my way home. 



I bathed, lunched, and still there was no news of Macdonald, 

 but as he had our breakfast-basket behind his howdah, con- 

 taining all that was requisite for refreshing the inner man, I 

 knew he would not starve, but wondered what had become of 

 him and Maina. He returned about 6 p.m. Maina, on 

 smelling the rhinoceros, had turned off abruptly, and going 

 at his best pace straight across country, had returned to our 

 yesterday's camp some twelve miles distant ! crossing in his 

 course several nasty nullahs without slackening his speed, and 

 shaking his rider into a jelly. The mahout had lost all control 

 over him. 



After resting awhile, and having something to eat, Macdonald 

 wanted to return by the direct route we had followed, but 

 nothing would induce the animal to leave Soonapilly unless 

 he had a man walking ahead of him, and by the long and 

 circuitous pathway made by the villagers. 



Now what had upset this usually staunch animal ? I can 

 only account for it in this way : Macdonald had a theory, 

 knowing how fond of opium the Assamese are, that if he took 

 some of this drug with him and kept doling it out, the mahout's 

 zeal and pluck would be increased. I fancy he gave no 

 thought to what the mahout had previously taken the two 

 combined proved too much for the man's nerves, and he got 

 demoralized and communicated his funk to the animal he 

 bestrode. 



