ood for half a minute
swaying from side to side, and then fell heavily upon the ground.

Mr Harvey had given Tom the first shot at the other elephant; but, just
at the moment when the lad was about to fire, the elephant gave a sudden
start at the report of Dick's rifle, and Tom's shot struck it at the
side of the head and glancing off passed through its ear. Throwing up
its trunk, the elephant instantly charged. Mr Harvey fired, but the
uplifted trunk prevented his getting an accurate aim at the vital spot.
The bullet passed through the trunk, and then glanced off the forehead.
The elephant swerved and showed its side, at which a general volley was
fired by all the guns still loaded. The great beast stood still for an
instant, stumbled forward a few strides, and then its legs seemed to
bend beneath it, and it sank down quietly to the ground.

Just at this moment, as the affrighted cows were turning to fly across
the plain, there was a thundering rush, and the great elephant charged
through them, and passing between the dead males dashed into the wood.
Its rush was so sudden and headlong that it carried the elephant past
the men standing behind the trees; but it speedily checked itself, and
turning round made a rush upon them. There was an instant stampede.
Most of the natives at once threw away their guns; some climbed hastily
up into the trees against which they were standing; others took to the
bushes. The elephant charged in after these, but seeing no signs of
them he speedily came out again and looked round for a fresh foe. His
eye fell upon Dick, who had just recharged his rifle.

"Run, Dick! run!" shouted Mr Harvey.

But Dick saw that the elephant was upon him, while the tree near which
he was standing was too thick to climb. The elephant was holding his
head so high that Dick could not aim at the spot on the forehead, but,
waiting until the animal was within ten yards of him, he fired into its
open mouth, and then leapt behind the tree. With a scream of pain the
elephant rushed on, but being unable to check himself he came full butt
with tremendous force against the tree, which quivered under the blow,
and Dick, thinking that it was going to fall upon him, sprang back a
pace. Three or four more shots were fired before the elephant could
turn, and then wheeling round it charged upon its new assailants.

Tom was one of those nearest to him; the boy had just discharged his
rifle and advanced a few feet