HUNTING THE ELEPHANT. 153 



bull with magnificent tusks. We had wounded the cow 

 in a much slighter degree than was supposed, and were 

 compelled to wonder at the death of the bull from a single" 

 shot. We first saw our path clear for a fair run to the 

 horses, and then, taking aim at the region behind the 

 shoulder, each fired the load of a barrel into the grieving 

 cow, and without waiting to see the result, ran for our 

 horses. And we did well ; for a shrill trumpeting sounded 

 the signil for a tremendous charge through the grove in 

 our rear. The horses had not been tied, we seized the 

 bridle, sprang into the saddle, and spurred away just as 

 the enraged cow reached the edge of the grove. She must 

 have been within a dozen feet of Mr. Barrill, when he 

 started his horse. But we had no need of hard riding. 

 The poor cow had done her best. She halted about fifty 

 yards from the grove, and turned, as if about to go back 

 to the body of her mate ; but the strong grasp of death 

 had seized her vitals, and, with a few, long, horrid groans, 

 she fell forward, and rolled dead upon the plain. We 

 did not cheer on this occasion, as we did when our first ele- 

 phant fell before our rifles. Though determined to com- 

 plete our work, we had been too much affected by the 

 touching display of attachment between the elephants to 

 break forth in clamorous rejoicings. 



Leaving the cow we entered the grove to survey the 

 bull. The ground was absolutely slippery with blood, 



