ii6 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



soft clay and water of the flat prevented them 

 from making much progress, and gave us time 

 to clamber up a large tree near the side of the 

 flat. The elephant, followed by the buffalo, was 

 making in our direction, and just as they were 

 nearing the edge of the flat I thought I had 

 a good mark at the bull and fired. He stopped 

 for a moment, looked up, and seeing nothing but 

 Bheestie's quarters before him charged furiously 

 into them, and sent her clean out of the flat 

 and on to her shoulder, the pad flying off at the 

 same time. The mahout miraculously escaped 

 and ran off to a neighbouring tree. Bheestie 

 soon regained her feet, and went off into the 

 forest trumpeting loudly. After his furious charge 

 the bull apparently slipped and fell on his knees, 

 and while in that position I was able to put in 

 a second shot. There was no doubt about his 

 being hit this time, for over he went on his 

 side ; but he was up again in a moment, and 

 charged the elephant-pad which was lying on the 

 margin of the flat. He tossed it high into the 

 air and about ten yards to the front, and it was 

 barely down when he was on to it again, pounding 

 it with his forelegs and dancing on it. I never saw 

 such an exhibition of rage and exultation as that 

 pictured in the mad trampling of the pad by the 

 furious buffalo. He would retreat a few paces, eye 

 the pad a moment, and then rush forward as if to toss 

 it again, but changing his mind at the last moment, 

 would trample it instead. I now had time to put 

 in a third and a fourth shot, but without any 



