e, seeking for some opening into
which I could plunge. This gave me a moment's start, for the bull
could not turn as quickly as I could, and I made the most of it. But no
opening could I see; the bush was like a wall. We were speeding round
the edge of the glade, and the elephant was coming up again. Now he was
within about six feet, and now, as he trumpeted or rather screamed,
I could feel the fierce hot blast of his breath strike upon my head.
Heavens! how it frightened me!

"We were three parts round the glade now, and about fifty yards ahead
was the single large dead thorn-tree against which the bull had been
leaning. I spurted for it; it was my last chance of safety. But spurt as
I would, it seemed hours before I got there. Putting out my right hand,
I swung round the tree, thus bringing myself face to face with the
elephant. I had not time to lift the rifle to fire, I had barely time to
cock it, and run sideways and backward, when he was on to me. Crash! he
came, striking the tree full with his forehead. It snapped like a carrot
about forty inches from the ground. Fortunately I was clear of the
trunk, but one of the dead branches struck me on the chest as it went
down and swept me to the ground. I fell upon my back, and the elephant
blundered past me as I lay. More by instinct than anything else I lifted
the rifle with one hand and pulled the trigger. It exploded, and, as I
discovered afterwards, the bullet struck him in the ribs. But the recoil
of the heavy rifle held thus was very severe; it bent my arm up, and
sent the butt with a thud against the top of my shoulder and the side of
my neck, for the moment quite paralyzing me, and causing the weapon to
jump from my grasp. Meanwhile the bull was rushing on. He travelled for
some twenty paces, and then suddenly he stopped. Faintly I reflected
that he was coming back to finish me, but even the prospect of imminent
and dreadful death could not rouse me into action. I was utterly spent;
I could not move.

"Idly, almost indifferently, I watched his movements. For a moment
he stood still, next he trumpeted till the welkin rang, and then very
slowly, and with great dignity, he knelt down. At this point I swooned
away.

"When I came to myself again I saw from the moon that I must have been
insensible for quite two hours. I was drenched with dew, and shivering
all over. At first I could not think where I was, when, on lifting
my head, I saw the outline of the one-tuske