But he was still at least fifty paces from the rocks, when he found that the elephants were within half that distance of him,--one very large animal, and three smaller,--all in a row, as if determined that he should not escape, snorting so tremendously that he was quite stunned with the noise." "That's what I call a very pretty position," observed the Major.

"Go on, Swinton; the affair is becoming a little nervous." "As his only chance, Lieutenant Moodie turned round, and leveled his gun at the largest elephant; but unfortunately the powder was damp, and the gun hung fire, till he was in the act of taking it from his shoulder, when it went off, and the ball merely grazed the side of the elephant's head.

The animal halted for an instant, and then made a furious charge upon him.

He fell; whether struck down by the elephant's trunk he can not say.

The elephant then thrust at him as he lay, with his tusk; fortunately it had but one, and more fortunately it missed its mark, plowing up the ground within an inch of Mr.Moodie's body.
"The animal then caught him up with its trunk by his middle, and dashed him down between his fore-feet to tread him to death.