RETURN TO CAMP. 141 



f Exultant from this great victory, we quickly dismounted 

 to examine our prize. Mr. Barrill pronounced it a full 

 grown bull elephant. The tusks were about five feet in 

 length, and beautiful specimens of ivory. I stood in 

 amazement at the tremendous proportions of the animal, 

 and could not but wonder at the gift of puny man, who 

 was enabled to effect so easy a triumph over such a mon- 

 ster of strength. The skin was nearly as thick as that 

 of the rhinoceros, but not so tough ; a dozen of our bullets 

 had penetrated it ; and of these, at least three had en- 

 tered the vitals of the elephant. We had but little time 

 for an examination. The twilight was deepening into 

 night, and we had a long ride before us. With conside- 

 rerable hacking, we secured the tusks, and a large slice of 

 the rump, and with these trophies of the greatest hunting 

 triumph we had yet achieved, we started for our camp. 

 We arrived safely, but not until the night had spread her 

 full serenity over the teeming world. 



