MIL1TAR Y AD VENTURES. 253 



" His reconnoitring must have proved 

 satisfactory, for very soon the creature's 

 body was slowly drawn into view ; gradu- 

 ally raising himself up on his legs, at last 

 my deadly foe stood before me. He little 

 knew that a man bent on vengeance was 

 close to him, or he would have felt less 

 comfortable. To my joy I saw him begin 

 to lick his sides, and while he was thus 

 occupied I gently raised the gun and put 

 it through a branch of the tree; but, 

 gently as it was done, the sound caught 

 his ear and he stopped his employment, 

 looking round suspiciously, but seeing 

 everything quiet he resumed the licking of 

 his sides. He was now standing within 

 five yards of me, so I took a steady aim at 

 him aiming just behind the shoulder 

 and with a firm hand I pulled the trigger : 

 this was followed by a loud roar and an 



