ached the verge of the
underwood; and, having parted the leaves, looked through. The mighty
quadruped was right under their eyes, within twenty yards of them!

He was still busy plunging about, and blowing volumes of water over his
body. He gave no sign that he had any suspicion of their presence. They
could take time, therefore, in choosing a part of his huge body at which
to aim their pieces.

When first seen from their new position, he was standing stern towards
them. Von Bloom did not think it a good time to fire, as they could not
give him a deadly wound in that situation. They waited, therefore, until
he might turn his side, before they should deliver their volley. They
kept their eyes all the while steadily fixed on him.

He ceased at length to "churn" with his feet, and no longer raised water
in his trunk; and now the hunters perceived that the lake was red for a
space around him! It was his blood that had reddened it.

They no longer doubted that he had been wounded by the rhinoceros; but
whether the wound was a bad one they could not tell. It was in his side,
and as yet they could only see his broad stern from the position in
which he still continued to stand. But they waited with confidence--as
they knew that in turning to get out of the water, he would have to
present his side towards them.

For several minutes he kept the same position; but they noticed that his
tail no longer switched about, and that his attitude was loose and
drooping. Now and then he turned his proboscis to the spot where he had
received the thrust of the kobaoba's horn. It was evident that the wound
was distressing him, and this became more apparent by the loud painful
breathing the creature uttered through his trunk.

The three began to grow impatient. Hendrik asked leave to creep round to
another point, and give him a shot that would turn him round.

Just at that moment the elephant made a motion, as though he was about
to come out of the water.

He had got fairly round--his head and fore-part were over dry land--the
three guns were pointed--the eyes of the three hunters were about to
glance through the sights of their pieces, when all at once he was seen
to rock and stagger,--and then roll over! With a loud plash, his vast
body subsided into the water, sending great waves to every corner of the
lake.

The hunters uncocked their guns, and, springing from their ambush,
rushed forward to the bank. They saw at a glance that the