SHOOTING EXPERIENCES. 
343 
an ant-hill, and had my rifle in rest at my side. 
Having arrived at within less than a dozen paces of 
my ambush, the animal stopped short. That pause 
proved his death-warrant, for, the next instant, a 
well-directed ball pierced his heart. Turning 
sharply round, and staggering forward about fifty 
paces, he came heavily to the ground, a lifeless 
mass. He proved a very fine elephant. 
After a while his companion, who had retreated 
on hearing the report of the gun, again made his 
appearance, and I was flattering myself would give 
me a chance of a broadside; but just then, owing 
to a sudden shift of wind, he got scent of me* and 
was off in double quick time. As he was retreat¬ 
ing, however, I pulled the trigger, and with good 
effect, for he was next morning found dead at only 
a short distance from the spot where he had received 
the wound. 
On discharging this last shot I was in a sitting 
posture, and the recoil of the rifle fairly knocked 
me head over heels, disabling at the same time my 
right shoulder, which generally, on hunting excur¬ 
sions, was protected by a pad; but this, on the pre¬ 
sent occasion, had been accidentally left behind at 
the bivouac. My gun was then charged with twelve 
drachms of powder, but afterwards I never ex¬ 
ceeded nine-and-a-half, and found, by experience, 
that quantity amply sufficient. 
To say nothing of the excruciating pain I suffered 
in my shoulder, I was also much hurt in the chest. 
Nevertheless, I remained for a while longer at my 
post, and was well rewarded for my patience, as the 
