A FOUJi HOURS’ HUNT. 
181 
became needful for the Major to risk everything. 
Leaning, therefore, over the back of the howdah, 
and clinging to it with the one hand, he, with 
the other discharged his rifle, a very heavy one, 
at the head of the lion (the piece at the time 
oscillating, or swinging, in a manner corresponding 
with the rolling of the elephant) and as luck would 
have it, the ball, after crashing the beast’s jaw-bone 
subsequently threaded the whole length of its body. 
“ This caused the lion to let go his hold, and for a 
few seconds he appeared partially paralysed, but re¬ 
covering himself, he slowly retreated towards the 
thicker cover. 
“ Subsequently he was again attacked by the 
party, and in two or three instances charged them 
as gallantly as ever; but as he was always received 
with a heavy fire, an end was at length put to his 
existence, though not until from twenty to thirty 
balls had been lodged in his body. 
“ The hunt lasted altogether from three to four 
hours, during which time the Major himself saw the 
lion four several times at least on the head of 
Captain Harris’s elephant, and once, as he had good 
reason to remember, on the haunches of the animal 
ridden by himself. 
“ The Major described this lion as the most 
gallant that he, in his very numerous conflicts with 
those animals, had ever encountered ; and if the 
lion was brave, it must be admitted his assailants 
were equally intrepid. The Major considered the 
beast as the largest he had ever been in at the death 
of, its dimensions, stick measurement, being three 
