It was so close and so big that the effect was terrifying.
"_Mkubwa_," whispered Sulimani, and that means "big." So the big elephant, instead of being dead, was still alive, with an impassable river at its feet on one side, a dense tangle of trees on two other sides, and with a narrow open aisle between it and ourselves.

The two smaller elephants were at its side.

To see to fire I had to step out from the tree and expose myself, and as I stepped out the wounded beast saw me and reared its head as if to make a final rush.

I fired point-blank; it swung around and a second shot sent it down.

Hassan grabbed my arm and told me to hurry back before the two smaller elephants charged.