346 The Hunting Grounds 



gooloo, which we flung over our shoulders, first taking 

 the precaution of putting on fresh caps, so as to ensure 

 against miss-fires. 



Having made signs to our attendants to mount 

 into trees, which was much against their inclinations, 

 as they wanted to see the fun, we crept as noiselessly 

 as possible towards the spot from whence the sound 

 proceeded, and in a little while had the gratification 

 of seeing a very fair-sized tusker rubbing himself 

 most energetically against the trunk of a large teak- 

 tree. We made a circuit through the wood in order 

 to get well to leeward of him, and then cocking our 

 rifles cautiously approached, taking advantage of 

 whatever cover we could find from clumps of bamboo 

 and natural undulations of the ground ; he seeming 

 so much engrossed in his occupation (that of scratch- 

 ing himself), that he did not perceive our approach, 

 and allowed us to get close , behind him, where we 

 stood watching his movements for a few moments. 



Seeing that B was perfectly ready, I gave a 



shril] whistle, which immediately attracted his atten- 

 tion, for his ears distended, and he swang heavily 

 round, with a hoarse grunt, fully exposing his broad 



forehead to our view. Quick as thought B threw 



up his rifle, and fired a double shot a heavy fall, a 

 subdued sigh, followed the report, and when the smoke 

 cleared away I saw he had pitched heavily forward, 

 and buried his tusks nearly a foot deep into the 



