Page 70 - Adventures in Africa

It shook violently, compelling my uncle to hold on
with arms and legs,
I quickly reloaded and fired another shot directly

behind the creature's ear. I saw the blood spouting*
forth and flowing down until it formed a pool dyeing

the surrounding grass. Gradually the elephant’s
trunk unwound and hung down from its vast head.
" YouJve done for it," shouted my uncle; “ send

another shot into its neck and we shall be free.”
I was reloading while he spoke, and before the

elephant altered its favourable position I again, fired.
Less than a minute elapsed, then down it sank
on its knees, It made several efforts to rise but

without success— its strength was fast failing. I had
one more bullet remaining, but I wished to save it
for any emergency which might occur. W e had not

long to wait before the elephant fell over on its side
and lay an inanimate mass.
My uncle quickly descended the tree and I followed

his example. His first act was to pick up and examine
his gun. It having escaped injury he at once reloaded,

and then, shaking hands, we surveyed our fallen foe.
“ i wish that we could carry these magnificent
tusks with us, but that is out of the question/1 ob­

served my uncle, “ W e will, however, try to secure
them. Help me to cut them out/1

W e set to w ork; and having fastened all the straps
we could muster round one of them, he ascended the
tree in which I had taken refuge, and I assisting him,
we hauled up one of the tusks, and deposited it safely

among the branches. The other was hauled up in
the same fashion, and pretty hard work it was, as