312 
THE ELEPHANT. 
and therefore returned to my first post. With my 
heavy rifle (carrying steel-pointed conical bullets, 
three to the pound) ready poised in my hand, and 
my double-barrelled smooth-bore ready cocked on 
the ground beside me, I anxiously waited for a 
chance to fire. I wanted him to move a step or 
tvro forward, when I knew his shoulder must be 
fully exposed. Suddenly he did so, and as quickly 
I covered his heart—the jungle re-echoing the next 
instant with the explosion of twelve drachms of 
Hall’s best rifle-powder. The effect was deadly; 
with a frightful rush forward—it was the most tre¬ 
mendous plunge I ever witnessed by any wild 
animal—he fell prostrate within one hundred and 
fifty yards of my ambush. 
Another elephant was evidently following on the 
track of the stricken one. It is true I did not see 
him, but inferred as much from the noise occasioned 
by his flight, and, having quickly reloaded, I pur¬ 
sued the fugitive. 
Suddenly, and when within less than twenty 
paces, I found myself in his presence. The beast 
was partially facing me, his huge ears, spread like a 
pair of studding-sails, giving a defiant and threaten¬ 
ing air to his whole attitude. I did not, however, 
hesitate, but fired at once at his shoulder, when he 
instantly betook himself to flight. My henchman, 
becoming alarmed at the close proximity of the 
gigantic creature, instead of handing me the spare 
gun, also ran away. 
Reloading the rifle, I was soon once more in pur¬ 
suit, and had shortly the satisfaction of again 
