I looked: there was the hinder part of a second bull elephant not four yards off.

I could just catch sight of its outstretched ears projecting on either side.

I had disturbed it sleeping, and it was running away.
Obviously the best thing to do would have been to let it run, but I was young in those days and foolish, and in the excitement of the moment I lifted my "roer" or elephant gun and fired at the great brute over my horse's head.

The recoil of the heavy gun nearly knocked me off the horse.

I recovered myself, however, and, as I did so, saw the bull lurch forward, for the impact of a three-ounce bullet in the flank will quicken the movement even of an elephant.