Its companion now came forth and stood over the tortured creature, licking its sores till it expired.

By this time I had recovered the consciousness I had lost with the shock of my fall, and had ascertained that my gun was safe.

I had but time to prepare and level it when, leaving its dead companion, the brute turned and charged me almost as rapidly as an infuriated elephant.

I fired several times and assured, if only from my skill as a marksman, that some of the shots had hit it, was surprised to see that at each it was only checked for a moment and then resumed its charge.

It was so near now that I could aim with some confidence at the eye; and if, as I suspected, the previous shots had failed to pierce the hide, no other aim was likely to avail.