With all his bravery, however, it was just as much as he could do to keep his balance.

Unfortunately, in climbing up the rock, he had been compelled to abandon his boar-spear: else with that he might have supported himself.

His long knife was still in his belt; and this he drew forth--not with the design of using it upon his antagonist, but only the better to balance himself.

It is true he would have been fain to take a chop or two at the gristly proboscis of the elephant; but he dared not bend his body into a stooping attitude, lest his centre of gravity might get beyond the supporting base, and thus bring about the result he dreaded.
No other course remained for him, than to preserve his body in an upright attitude; and, conscious of this fact, he braced his nerves to the utmost, and maintained himself erect and rigid as a statue of bronze..