s it passed.

This was a common custom of the natives; but the king, who was a bold,
reckless man, had neglected to take the very necessary precaution of
selecting a strong tree. The elephant seemed actually to have observed
this, for instead of passing on, it suddenly rushed headlong against the
tree and began to break it down. When we came up the beast was heaving
and straining with all its might, the stout tree was cracking and
rending fearfully, so that the king could scarcely retain his position
on it. The natives were plying their spears with the utmost vigour; but
although mortally wounded, it was evident that in a few more seconds the
elephant would succeed in throwing down the tree and trample the king to
death.

Peterkin instantly sprang forward, but Jack laid his hand on his
shoulder.

"It's my turn this time, lad," he cried, and leaping towards the
monster, he placed the muzzle of his rifle close to its shoulder and
sent a six-ounce ball right through its heart.

The effect was instantaneous. The elephant fell to the ground, a
mountain of dead flesh.

The delight of the negroes at this happy termination of the battle was
excessive. They leaped and laughed and danced like insane men, and we
had much ado to prevent them seizing us in their arms and rubbing noses
with us.

As we had not commenced the hunt until well on in the day, evening was
now closing in; so the king gave orders to encamp on a dry rising ground
not far distant, where the jungle was less dense, and thither we all
repaired, the natives bringing in all the game, and cutting up the
elephants in a very short space of time.

"Your shot was not such a bad one this time, Ralph," observed Peterkin,
as we three stood looking at the large elephant which the natives were
cutting up. "There they are, just above the proboscis. But let me warn
you never again to venture on such a foolhardy thing as to fire in the
face of a charging elephant unless you are a dead shot."

"Thank you, Peterkin, for your advice, which, however, I will not take
when a comrade's life may depend on my doing so."

"I give you full credit for the excellence of your intention," rejoined
my friend; "but if Jack's life had depended on those two shots from your
double-barrel, he would have been but a dead man now. There is only one
vulnerable spot in the front of an elephant's head; that is, exactly in
the centre of the forehead. The spot is not bigger than a saucer