332 WILD SPORTS OF BURMA AND ASSAM 



feeding again, the monkey, which had apparently seen me, 

 keeping up all this time an incessant chatter. 



After composing myself, and placing spare cartridges in a 

 handy pocket, I crept a little nearer, and, aiming for the 

 shoulder-shot, fired both barrels in quick succession. The 

 smoke hid everything for a few seconds, then I heard a great 

 crashing and smashing of branches, and saw that the elephant 

 had charged straight down the side of the steep ravine, leav- 

 ing great ruts behind, where he had slid along on his haunches. 

 To ram in two fresh cartridges, close the breech, and take aim 

 and fire both barrels again at the elephant, as he clambered 

 up the steep bank on the other side of the ravine, was the 

 work of a moment. Both shots took effect between the neck 

 and hind-quarters near the spine, and must have gone well 

 into his vitals. I was now pretty certain of getting him, as 

 I knew that one of the four steel-tipped bullets driven by 6 

 drams of powder was sure to have penetrated a vital spot, 

 probably his liver or lungs, and would prevent his travelling 

 any distance. 



We followed in his wake very cautiously, as the ground was 

 strewn with boulders, fallen logs, and branches ; the under- 

 growth was also fairly thick. There was plenty of blood 

 along the trail, and my clothes from contact with the blood- 

 besprinkled leaves were all stained. The elephant now made 

 us aware of his immediate vicinity by uttering at intervals 

 sounds like distant thunder, and by thrashing the ground with 

 his trunk. This was a sign that he meant mischief, if possible, 

 but it also meant that he was partially disabled. 



We were now very deliberate in our movements, as we 

 might come suddenly on the animal in turning a corner, for 

 the elephant was evidently on the look-out for his aggressors. 



But luck was in our favour, and after going through some 

 very ticklish jungle we caught sight of the quarry stand- 

 ing in some fairly open bamboo and cane jungle, with his 

 ears cocked well forward listening. We were about 35 yards 

 from him and on higher ground, and as he was stand- 

 ing broadside on, I thought I might as well try to disable him 

 from where I was, as the nature of the ground would have 

 prevented my getting any nearer without being discovered. 



