I quickly seized the opportunity and fired the "Baby," with an explosive shell, aimed far back in the flank, trusting that it would penetrate beneath the opposite shoulder.

The recoil of the "Baby," loaded with ten drams of the strongest powder and a half-pound shell, spun me round like a top.

It was difficult to say which was staggered the more severely, the elephant or myself.

However, we both recovered, and I seized one of my double rifles, a Reilly No.

10, that was quickly pushed into my hand by my Tokroori, Hadji Ali.