410 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
Guessing the position of the shoulder, I took a 
quick shot with the Paradox gun; the elephant, 
most fortunately, not having observed the animal. 
The effect was most extraordinary ; I never 
heard such a noise ; there was a combination of 
roars and howls, as though a dozen tigers and 
lions were engaged- in a Salvation Army chorus. 
Away went Hurri Ram, rendering it impossible 
for me to fire, as a large bear came straight at 
us, charging from the deep gloom of a bamboo 
clump, and growling, as it ran with the speed 
of a dog, direct at the elephant, 
I thought we must be knocked to pieces; two 
or three smaller trees fortunately gave way before 
the terrified rush of Hurri Ram, but the power 
of the driving - hook was gone; although the 
mahout alternately drove the spike deep into his 
skull and hooked the sharp crook into the tender 
base of the ears, the elephant crashed along, 
threatening us with destruction, as he swept 
through bamboos, and appeared determined to run 
for miles. 
I had been accustomed to feed this animal daily 
with all kinds of nice delicacies beloved by 
elephants, and at such times I always spoke to him 
in a peculiar phraseology. Although I was in the 
worst possible humour, and considerably anxious 
regarding our safety, when rushing through forest 
at 15 miles an hour, I addressed Hurri Ram in 
most endearing terms—“ Poor old fellow, poor old 
Hurri Ram, where are the sugar-canes ? where are 
