56 The Life of an Elephant 



emerged in the more open space around the 

 pool, he saw the elephant standing motionless, 



and watching him more 

 with curiosity than with 

 fear or anger. The 

 man realized that there 

 was no immediate 

 danger, that there was 

 no necessity for hurried 

 aim, and no excuse for 

 bungling this execution. He raised his rifle 

 slowly, and, as the head of the foresight passed 

 the base of the trunk, the trigger was pressed, 

 and the bullet sped upwards into the brain. 

 The elephant sank to his knees without a 

 sound; for an instant he seemed to be balanced 

 in this attitude, then rolled over and lay on his 

 side, dying with the calm dignity which had 

 emphasized his life. 



The villagers, who had known of him for 

 two generations, and who asserted that he was 

 in his prime when the oldest of them were 

 young, believed that after a so long and harm- 

 less life in this world of toil and trouble the 



