140 HUNTING THE ELEPHANT. 



for a shot bj caution and good riding. Fire the halls into * 

 them just behind the shoulder, for they will be effective no 

 where else* They will not charge unless enraged by 

 wounds, and then you must spur hard and dodge skilfully 

 from the right track." 



Enough said. Our rifles were examined. Both were 

 double-barrelled, and we now increased the weight of their 

 loads. Then, we skirted the base of a ridge till we came 

 within about four hundred yards of them, when they dis- 

 covered us, and dashed away, with a thrilling trumpeting, 

 and crashing tramp. We had nothing then to do but 

 to spur away in pursuit. The huge beasts ran faster than 

 I had imagined they could. But our steeds were fleet, 

 and, after a race of a mile, I succeeded in getting within 

 a hundred yards of the hindmost elephant. A few furious 

 strokes of the spur then threw me within rifle-shot ; and, as 

 I dashed a little upon one side of the animal, I aimed and 

 fired. I missed the shoulder but broke one of the ele- 

 phant's fore legs. This wound caused him to lag behind, 

 and Mr. Barrill and I were soon alongside, firing into him 

 at our leisure. Suddenly he stopped ; turning his sharp 

 tusks first to one side then to the other, as if uncertain 

 which way to charge, when, receiving the brace of bullets 

 in his vitals, he uttered long and mournful moans, and, 

 fell dead on his side, the shock making the ground tremble 

 under our feet. 



