4 The Life of an Elephant 



neighbours, and seizing every chance which 

 offered to reach towards the life-giving 

 light. 



At such a time there came upon any human 

 being dwelling in the forest, first, a conviction 

 of nature's absolute indifference to his pro- 

 ceedings, and next, the peace conferred by 

 personal irresponsibility, to which, if a man 

 succumbs, he joins the vast army of hermits, 

 religious mendicants, and other parasites ; 

 while, if he resists, he is left to work out a 

 strenuous existence in conflict with the wild 

 beasts and against the pressure of overwhelming 

 vegetation. 



As night drew on the cooler air became 

 charged with moisture and wrapped itself in 

 mist. The leaves of the forest trees were 

 weighted with the dampness they exuded ; it 

 no longer passed away in invisible vapour, but 

 trickled earthwards in heavy splashes, like the 

 sullen sound of windless rain. From hundreds 

 of miles of forest came the sound of dripping- 

 water in a ceaseless murmur, which increased 

 the weirdness of the scene, and even served to 



