of the Old World. 291 



lying on the top of the bank, although quite unable to 

 account to myself how I got there.* In the dry bed 

 of the nullah I saw my rifle, and after much painful 

 exertion managed to crawl down and get it. The 

 muzzle was filled with sand, which I cleared out as 

 well as I could ; and then, sitting by the edge of the 

 stream, began to wash away the blood and bathe my 

 face and head. Whilst so employed I heard a piercing 

 shriek, and saw Googooloo rushing towards me, closely 

 followed by the infuriated elephant, who was almost 

 mad from the pain of his wounds. Luckily a hanging 

 branch was in his way, and with the agility of a 

 monkey he caught hold of it, and swung himself up 

 the steep bank, where he was safe. 



The elephant, baulked of his victim, rushed wildly 

 backwards and forwards two or three times, as if 

 searching for him, and then, with a hoarse scream of 

 disappointment, came tearing down the bed of the 

 nullah. I was directly in his path, and powerless to 

 get out of the way. A moment more and I saw that 

 I was perceived, for down he charged on me with a 

 fiendish roar of vengeance. With difficulty I raised 

 my rifle, and, taking a steady aim between his eyes, 

 pulled the trigger it was my only chance. When 

 the smoke cleared away I perceived a mighty mass 



* The elephant must have flung me a considerable distance 

 with his trunk, as the bank was upwards of six feet high. 



u 2 



