"The water got to it in the river." "No," I answered, "and it is all your fault for making me shoot at him when I could take no aim." "It would have been just the same, Baas, for the rifle went under water also when we fell from the camel, and the cap would have been damp, and perhaps the powder too.

Also the shot made Jana stop for a moment." This was true, but it was maddening to be obliged to sit there with an empty gun, when if I had but one charge, or even my pistol, I was sure that I could have blinded or crippled this satanic pachyderm.
A few minutes later Jana played his last card.

Coming quite close to the trunk of the tree he reared himself up as before, but this time stretched out his forelegs so that these and his body were supported on the broad bole.

Then he elongated his trunk and with it began to break off boughs which grew between us and him.
"I don't think he can reach us," I said doubtfully to Hans, "that is, unless he brings a stone to stand on." "Oh! Baas, pray be silent," answered Hans, "or he will understand and fetch one." Although the idea seemed absurd, on the whole I thought it well to take the hint, for who knew how much this experienced beast did or did not understand?
Then, as we could go no higher, we wriggled as far as we dared along our boughs and waited.
Presently Jana, having finished his clearing operations, began to lengthen his trunk to its full measure.

Literally, it seemed to expand like a telescope or an indiarubber ring.