298 ADVENTURES OF ELEPHANT HUNTER ch. xxxiv 
only effect the bullet had was to bring the animal 
twenty yards nearer, as if curious as to the direction 
from which the shot had come. I could now see 
his head perfectly, and taking advantage of the 
opportunity, sent a bullet through his brain, which 
dropped him instantly, while his companions, seeing 
him fall, advanced towards him, as if puzzled as to 
the exact nature of his behaviour. I promptly sent 
a bullet through the heart of one who presented a 
favourable view for the shot, and, after lumbering 
heavily for some twenty yards through the grass, he 
collapsed and lay still. Scared by the second shot, 
the remaining animals cleared, so, quickly descend¬ 
ing from the tree which had proved of such service, 
I went in pursuit, only to discover, after about 
another mile of tracking, that they had joined a 
herd of twenty or more females who were feeding. 
On our approach, the whole herd stampeded, 
clearing a path through the long grass as if a troop 
of cavalry had ridden by. Returning to where our 
prizes lay, I got my men to chop out the tusks, 
and as we all felt thoroughly tired, pitched camp 
in the vicinity. The first elephant’s tusks, which 
were very thick, weighed 102 and 103I- lbs., 
respectively ; those of the other, only 25 lbs., each. 
Having heard some elephants feeding near our 
camp during the night, we set out at dawn on 
their tracks, and, as if to recompense me for the 
