346 
THE ELEPHANT. 
to start out of his sleep. Fortunately, the darkness 
prevented the beasts from following me, and the 
jungle being close by, I was soon in safety. During 
my precipitate flight, however, I severely lacerated 
my feet; for, when “ stalking ” the bulls, I had 
taken off my shoes, that I might the better steal 
upon them. 
When, after a while, I ventured out of my place 
of concealment, I found everything quiet, and only 
one solitary elephant remaining. Having approached 
within a short distance, I could distinctly see him lav¬ 
ing his sides with water by means of his trunk. I im¬ 
mediately suspected that he belonged to the troop of 
seven bulls, and was the one at which I had fired. 
Seating myself right across his path, I quietly watched 
his proceedings. After a time I saw him, as I thought, 
moving off in an opposite direction. But I was 
mistaken, for in another instant his towering form 
loomed above me. It was too late to get out of the 
way; so, quickly raising myself on one knee, I took 
a steady aim at his foreleg. On receiving the ball, 
he uttered the most plaintive cries, and rushing 
past me, soon disappeared in the neighbouring 
forest. The next afternoon he was discovered dead 
within rifle-shot of the water. It had been a very 
successful night, for a fine female elephant had 
fallen to my other shot. 
Though many were my adventures and hair¬ 
breadth escapes at the 66 screen,” those that befell 
me on the night of the 15th of July, 1853, were the 
most remarkable. That night, indeed, will ever be 
remembered by me as one of the most eventful 
