I Was In Momentary Dread Lest A Horse Should
Neigh And Disturb Him, As They Were Within 200 Paces Of Where He Stood.
Everything Was, However, Quiet In That Direction, Where The Hiding
Coolies Were Watching The Impending Event With Breathless Interest.
Having amused himself for some moments by kicking up the turf and dirt
and throwing the sand over his back, he took it into his head to visit
the main shore, and for this purpose he strode quickly in the direction
of the encampment.
I moved round the tree to secrete myself as he
advanced. He was soon exactly at right angles with me as he was passing
the tree, when he suddenly stopped: his whole demeanour changed in an
instant; his ears cocked, his eyes gleamed, his tail on end and his
trunk raised high in the air, he turned the distended tip towards the
tree from behind which I was watching him. He was perfectly motionless
and silent in this attitude for some moments. He was thirty yards from
me, as I supposed at the time, and I reserved my fire, having the
four-ounce rifle ready. Suddenly, with his trunk still raised, his long
legs swung forward towards me. There was no time to lose; I was
discovered, and a front shot would be useless with his trunk in that
position. Just as his head was in the act of turning towards me I took a
steady shot at his temple. He sank gently upon his knees, and never
afterwards moved a muscle!
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