Those who were near said that in that awful moment Kildare never changed colour.

The elephant plunged wildly in his efforts to shake off the beast from his head, but Kildare had seized his second gun the moment he had discharged the first, and aiming for one second only, as the tossing head and neck of the tusker brought the gigantic cat opposite him, fired again.

The fearful claws, driven deep and sure into the thick hide of the poor elephant, relaxed their hold, the beautiful lithe limbs straightened by their own perpendicular weight, and the first prize of the day dropped to the ground like lead, dead, shot through the head.
A great yell of triumph arose all along the line, and the little _mahout_ crept cautiously back from his lurking-place behind the howdah to see if the coast were clear.

Kildare had behaved splendidly, and shouts of congratulation reached his ears from all sides.

Miss Westonhaugh waved her handkerchief in token of approbation, every one applauded, and far away to the left Isaacs, who was in the last howdah, clapped his hands vigorously, and seat his high clear voice ringing like a trumpet down the line.
"Well done, Kildare! well done, indeed!" and his rival's praise was not the least grateful to Lord Steepleton on that day.