276 THE HUNTING GEOUNDS 



a mile up a narrow ravine, or rather gorge, in tlie 

 mountain, where we found him drinking in a rocky 

 nullah, and accompanied by two females. After 

 having watched his movements for a few moments, 

 I saw that it was advisable to gain the opposite 

 bank, as it was much higher, and afforded good 

 cover. This I accomplished, after some trouble, for 

 the underwood was very thick, by making a cir- 

 cuitous route, crossing the stream some distance to 

 leeward, and creeping along the banks of the nullah 

 until I got behind a tree, about thirty paces from the 

 group. 



Although I kept well under cover, I could see, 

 from the elephants' movements, that their suspicions 

 had been aroused, for they kept sniffing about with 

 their trunks, as if they were aware that " there was 

 something strange in the wind." 



At last the bull moved forward a couple of paces, 

 and stretched out his trunk, as if to discover from 

 whence the taint in the air proceeded, at the same 

 time fully presenting his broad forehead to my view. 

 This was the opportunity I sought. I took a steady 

 aim at the vulnerable spot, just over the root of the 

 trunk, and dropped him with a single ball, like a 

 rabbit riddled with buck-shot. 



The females, taken aback at the fall of their com- 

 panion, rushed trumpeting down the stream, when 

 just at this moment a cry from Googooloo attracted 

 my attention to a crashing of underwood in the 

 jungle close at hand, and I had hardly time to 



