350 
THE ELEPHANT. 
moved off with considerable rapidity—most hap¬ 
pily without my having received other injuries 
than a few bruises, occasioned by the falling of the 
stones. Under Providence, I attribute my extra¬ 
ordinary escape to the confusion of the animal, 
caused by the wound I had inflicted on him, and to 
the cries elicited from me when in my utmost peril. 
Immediately after the elephant had left me, I 
was on my legs : and, snatching up a spare rifle 
lying at hand, I pointed it at him as he was retreat¬ 
ing, and pulled the trigger; but, to my intense 
mortification, the piece missed fire. It was matter 
of thankfulness to me, however, that a similar mis¬ 
hap had not occurred when the animal charged; 
for had not my gun then exploded, nothing, as I 
conceive, could have saved me from destruction. 
During this scene, the rest of the elephants re¬ 
treated into the bush; but by the time I had 
repaired my hiding-place they re-appeared, with 
stealthy and cautious steps, on the opposite side 
of the pool, though so distant that I could not fire 
with any prospect of success. As they did not 
approach nearer, I attempted to “ stalk ” them, but 
they would not allow me to come to close quarters, 
and, after awhile, moved off together. 
Whilst pondering over my late wonderful escape, 
I observed, at a little distance, a huge white rhino¬ 
ceros protruding its ponderous and mis-shapen head 
through the bushes, and presently afterwards it ap¬ 
proached to within a dozen paces of my ambuscade. 
Its broadside was then fully exposed to view, and, 
notwithstanding that I still felt a little nervous from 
