48 ADVENTURES OF AN ELEPHANT HUNTER CH. 



long training, instantly handed me my 1075 mm -> 

 but it was well-nigh impossible for me to place a 

 decisive shot, for, from where we stood, the only 

 portion of Kom-Kom visible was his uplifted trunk, 

 ceaselessly moving to and fro above the dense 

 vegetation, apparently sniffing for our scent. 

 Luckily, the Mighty One was to windward of us, 

 and, as if uncertain of our whereabouts, turned and 

 advanced slowly in our direction. Even now, I was 

 quite unable to see him clearly, so judging the 

 probable location of his forehead, I fired once more, 

 but the bullet, instead of stopping or turning him, 

 only served to rouse his anger, and, trumpeting 

 shrilly, he dashed furiously in our direction. 

 Hastily driving another cartridge out of the 

 magazine into the breech, I fired full in his face, 

 but as he came thundering on with lowered head, 

 the bullet crashed into his skull several inches above 

 the right eye. An instant afterwards he was upon 

 us and I was hurled violently to the ground, 

 slightly to the left, and half buried under a mass of 

 broken branches and torn vegetation. It was a 

 miracle that I wasn't trampled ! The impetus of 

 Kom-Kom's attack carried him about seven yards 

 beyond where I lay, and at that distance he came 

 to a standstill and began sniffing the air for a whiff 

 of my scent, while I, concealed beneath the heap of 

 debris, could clearly see every movement he made. 



