No bullet thudded.

No mark of blood appeared upon his hide.

The horrible thought overcame me that I, Allan Quatermain, I the famous shot, the renowned elephant-hunter, had four times missed this haystack of a brute from a distance of forty yards.

So great was my shame that I think I almost fainted.

Through a kind of mist I heard various ejaculations: "Great Heavens!" said Ragnall.
"_Allemagte!_" remarked Hans.
"The Child help us!" muttered Harut.
All the rest of them stared at me as though I were a freak or a lunatic.
Then somebody laughed nervously, and immediately everybody began to laugh.