There was no time to lose; I was discovered, and a front shot would be useless with his trunk in that position.

Just as his head was in the act of turning towards me I took a steady shot at his temple.

He sank gently upon his knees, and never afterwards moved a muscle! His eyes were open, and so bright that I pushed my finger in them to assure myself that life was perfectly extinct.

He was exactly thirty-two paces from the rifle, and the ball had passed in at one temple and out at the other.

His height may be imagined from this rough method of measuring.