ismailia-第51部分

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explosive　shell；　containing　a　bursting　charge　of　half　an　ounce　of　fine
grain　powder。　These　two　elephant　rifles　were　very　hard　hitters；　and
carried　twelve　drachms　of　powder。　The　ammunition　for　the　rifles　was　on　a
shelf　that　formed　the　rack；　contained　in　a　small　bag　with　a　simple
reload；　and　a　large　bag　with　a　considerable　supply。　The　small　bag　was
intended　for　the　deck；　should　I　call　suddenly　for　a　rifle。

Seeing　that　the　elephants　were　so　near；　I　at　once　ordered　my　horse；
〃Greedy　Grey；〃　to　be　saddled；　and　the　rifles　and　ammunition　to　be　sent
after　me。　My　servant；　Suleiman；　who　had　started　with　me　from　Alexandria；
was　an　honest；　good　creature；　but　so　exceedingly　nervous　that　he　was
physically　useless　in　any　sudden　emergency。　The　climate　of　the　marshes
during　our　long　voyage　had　so　affected　his　nervous　system；　that　any
alarm　or　start　would　set　him　trembling　to　such　an　extent；　that　his　teeth
chattered　as　though　he　had　been　bathing　in　iced　water。　However；　there
was　no　time　to　lose；　as　I　expected　that　should　the　elephants　observe　our
vessels；　and　the　troops　in　their　scarlet　uniform；　they　would　immediately
wheel　round　and　be　off；　at　the　pace　which　an　African　elephant　knows　so
well　how　to　use。

I　quickly　mounted　〃Greedy　Grey〃　and　told　Suleiman　to　send　on　my　rifles
directly；　with　ammunition。

I　ordered　my　men　to　run　up　the　heights；　and　to　come　down　at　about　200
paces　in　the　rear　of　the　elephants；　where　they　were　to　form　a　line　as
though　in　skirmishing　order。　This　line　of　red　shirts　would　most　probably
check　the　elephants　from　rushing　back。　My　men　had　orders　to　fire　at　the
elephants；　and　to　endeavour　to　turn　them　should　they　attempt　a　retreat。

I　was　now　on　〃Greedy　Grey；〃　the　sloping　ground　was　as　clean　as　a
race…course；　I　therefore　galloped　up　the　incline　so　as　to　keep　above　the
elephants。　The　horse　flew　along　at　full　speed。　At　this　moment；　a　chorus
of　shouts　from　great　numbers　of　natives　who　had　collected　on　the　east
bank　of　the　river　was　raised　in　admiration　of　the　white　horse；　which
they　probably　thought　would　in　some　manner　seize　the　elephants。

In　a　very　few　seconds　I　reined　up　on　the　slope；　about　a　hundred　yards
above　the　herd；　which　had　now　halted　close　to　the　river's　bank。　They
regarded　the　horse　with　some　curiosity；　and　massed　themselves　together。

In　the　meantime；　my　〃Forty；〃　who　were　capital　runners；　were　moving
rapidly　along　the　heights；　and　they　presently　came　down；　and　formed　in　a
long；　open　line　from　the　edge　of　the　river　up　the　slope。　During　this
operation；　the　elephants　only　moved　their　ears　and　trunks；　but　remained
in　the　same　position。　They　were　now　completely　surrounded；　the　diahbeeah
and　my　people　were　in　their　front；　I　was　above　them　on　one　flank；　and
the　servants　were　coming　up　with　the　rifles。　In　their　rear　was　a　line　of
about　twenty　soldiers；　and　on　the　other　flank　was　the　deep　river；　about
110　yards　wide　from　the　mainland　to　the　island。

Just　as　the　rifles　were　within　a　few　yards　of　me　and　I　was　preparing　to
dismount；　the　elephants　wheeled　suddenly　round；　and　took　to　water。

They　had　been　standing　in　a　low；　swampy　spot　that　was　frequently
overflowed：　thus　they　had　no　difficulty　in　descending　to　the　river。
Close　to　this　place；　the　banks　were　perpendicular；　and　as　hard　as　brick。

I　ran　down　to　the　river；　but　by　the　time　of　my　arrival；　the　elephants
had　gained　the　opposite　bank；　there；　however；　they　were　in　a　difficulty。
The　water　was　deep；　and　the　shore　of　the　island　was　perpendicular；　and
about　six　feet　above　the　water。　They　could　not　get　out　without　breaking
down　the　bank　so　as　to　form　an　incline。　Already　these　enormous
creatures；　which　are　accustomed　to　such　difficulties；　were　tearing　down
the　earth　with　their　tusks　and　horny…toed　feet；　still　it　was　a　work　of
time；　that　gave　me　a　good　opportunity。

It　was　difficult　to　obtain　a　shot；　as　the　elephants　were　end　on。　The
distance　was　about　110　yards；　which　is　very　uncertain　for　so　large　an
animal；　that　must　be　struck　exactly　in　the　right　place。

I　fired　several　shots　with　the　No。　8　breechloader；　aimed　at　the　back　of
their　heads；　but　none　of　these　were　successful。

Monsoor　had　the　ammunition；　and　reloaded　for　me。　The　stunning　effect　of
the　heavy　metal　confused　the　animals　and　caused　one　to　fall　backward
into　the　scrambling　herd。　This　turned　an　elephant　sideways。　The　bank　had
already　given　way　and　had　fallen　in　large　masses　into　the　water；　which
reduced　the　depth。　The　elephants；　which　had　now　gained　a　muddy　footing；
ploughed　and　tore　down　the　yielding　earth　with　redoubled　vigour；　as　my
men　in　great　excitement　opened　a　hot　fire　upon　them　with　the　snider
rifles。　These　had　about　as　much　effect　as　though　they　had　been　pelted
with　stones。

Presently；　as　the　depth　was　lessened　by　the　falling　bank；　the　elephants
showed　more　body　above　the　surface。　The　splashing　and　scrambling　was
extraordinary；　at　length　a　large　bull　half　ascended　the　bank；　and　for　a
moment　exposed　his　flank；　I　fired　a　quick　right　and　left　shot　with　a
Reilly　No。　8　behind　his　shoulder；　and　he　fell　backwards　into　the　river；
where　he　commenced　a　series　of　wild　struggles　that　brought　him　within
twenty　yards　of　me；　and　I　sent　a　ball　into　his　head　which　killed　him。
The　powerful　stream　at　once　carried　away　the　floating　carcase。

The　bank　had　now　completely　given　way；　and　an　elephant　was　nearly　on　the
summit。　I　fired　at　him　with　one　of　the　Holland　half…pounders；　which　by
the　recoil　flew　out　of　my　hands　for　a　distance　of　several　yards；　this
was　loaded　with　twelve　drachms　of　fine…grain　powder。　The　elephant　fell
on　his　knees　on　the　steep　incline；　and　was　bagged　to　all　intents　and
purposes；　but　believing　that　I　had　plenty　of　ammunition　at　hand；　I　fired
another　half…pounder　into　his　shoulder；　which　killed　him　on　the　spot；
and　he　rolled　into　the　water；　and　the　current　took　him　away。

I　immediately　sent　a　man　to　order　boats；　with　ropes　and　axes；　to　follow
the　carcases。

In　the　mean　time　I　fired　my　last　No。　8　into　the　shoulder　of　an　elephant
that　had　just　climbed　the　bank　and　gained　the　island。　I　now　had　a
glorious　opportunity　of　a　shoulder…shot　at　every　animal　as　it　should
ascend　the　steep　incline。

My　ammunition　was　exhausted！　My　servant；　Suleiman；　had　sent　the　little
bag　that　contained　only　one　reload　for　the　breech…loaders；　and　no
powder　flask　or　shells　for　the　half…pounders。　I　had　now　the　annoyance　of
witnessing　the　difficult　ascent　of　the　elephants　in　single　file；
exposing　their　flanks　in　succession　to　the　shoulder…shot；　while　I
remained　a　helpless　looker…on。

I　had　thus　bagged　only　two　out　of　eleven；　but　these　were　killed　at　very
long　shots　（about　110　yards）。

The　half…pounder　rifles　were　the　same　calibre　and　pattern　as　that
described　in　〃The　Nile　Tributaries　of　Abyssinia〃　as　〃the　Baby。〃　These
were　made　by　Mr。　Holland　of　Bond　Street；　and　are　the　most　overpowering
rifles　I　ever　used。　They　were　certain　to　kill　the　elephant；　and　to　half
kill　the　man　who　fired　them　with　twelve　drachms　of　fine…grain　powder。　I
was　tolerably　strong；　therefore　I　was　never　killed　outright；　but　an　Arab
hunter　had　his　collar…bone　smashed　by　the　recoil；　when　the　rifle　was
loaded　with　simple　coarse…grain　powder。　If　he　had　used　fine　grain；　I
should　hardly　have　insured　his　life。

The　elephants　having　gained　the　island；　remained　some　time　exposed；
before　they　made　up　their　minds　to　cross　to　the　other　side。
Unfortunately；　the　boats　had　followed　the　carcases　of　the　elephants　down
the　river；　which　were　two　miles　distant　before　they　could　be　secured；
therefore　we　had　no　means　of　reaching　the　island。　Our　vessels　could　not
have　crossed；　as　there　were　many　rocks　below　stream。

I　therefore　took　a　few　shots　with　Hale's　rockets；　one　of　which　just
grazed　the　rump　of　an　elephant；　and　sent　them　off　in　great　astonishment。
We　then　tried　a　few　shots　with　the　fieldpiece；　but　the　gun　made　bad
practice；　and　the　shells　exploded　very　wildly　and　not　according　to　the
distances　regulated　by　the　fuses。

The　specific　gravity　of　the　elephant　differs　considerably　from　that　of
the　hippopotamus。　The　latter　animal　invariably　sinks　when　killed；　and
the　body　rises　to　the　surface　in　about　two　hours；　when　the　gas　has
distended　the　stomach。　The　body　of　an　elephant　floats　on　the　surface
immediately　that　it　is　killed；　and　is　capable　of　supporting　one　or　more
persons。　The　cavity　of　the　carcase　is　much　larger　in　the　elephant　than
in　the　hippopotamus；　the　latter　is　a　dense　mass　of　flesh；　covered　by　an
exceedingly　thick　and　heavy　skin；　the　specific　gravity　of　which　is
considerably　greater　than　water。



CHAPTER　XIII。

MORAL　RESULTS　OF　THE　HUNT。

The　moral　result　of　the　elephant　hunt　was　very　satisfactory；　at　the　same
time　most　unexpected。

The　sound　of　cannon　had　been　heard　by　the　natives　for　many　miles；　this
had　awakened　their　curiosity；　and　numbers　had　sped　from　the　surrounding
heights　and　satisfied　themselves　that　several　elephants　had　been　killed。
The　natives　of　Bedden　flocked　to　our　little　camp　in　hundreds；　and　were
delighted　at　receiving　permission　to　take　as　much　elephant's　flesh　as
they　required。　They　raced　along　the　bank　for　a　couple　of　miles　to　the
spot　where　the　two　elephants　had　been　secured　by　my　people；　and　towed
upon　a　sand…bank。

I　had　sent　down　a　noggur　to　make　sure　of　the　heads；　as　the　opportunity
of　obtaining　entire　skulls　seldom　offered。　These　two　heads　had　now　been
brought　safely　to　camp；　and　the　natives　were　employed　in　cleaning　every
atom　of　flesh　from　the　bone。

In　the　mean　time；　great　numbers　of　our　enemies　were　to　be　seen　squatting
upon　the　heights；　watching　the　happier　Baris　of　Bedden；　who　had
congregated　like　vultures　in　the　river；　and　were　quarrelling　and
scrambling　over　the　immense　carcases　of　the　elephants。　The　temptation
was　too　great　to　withstand。　Who　could　resist　flesh？　The　mouths　of　our
enemies　were　watering；　as　they　watched　the　heavy　loads　of　red　meat
carried　upon　the　heads　of　the　rival　Baris。　In　the　afternoon；　a　messenger
hailed　the　sentry　to　say　that　one　of　the　sheiks　wished　to　present
himself　to　me　to　crave　a　cessation　of　hostilities。　Shortly　after　the
disappearance　of　this　man　with　a　courteous　answer；　a　batch　of　messengers
arrived　to　beg　that　their　chief　might　be　received；　as　they　a