A Cha?tge of Masters 



105 



that the wisdom of shortening Maula Bux's 

 tusks became apparent. He was told to ad- 

 vance upon the stubborn elephants, and, when 

 within three or four paces, to charge. His 

 lowered forehead cauo-ht the first waverer full 



^/ in the stern, and she pitched headlong into 



the water, whence return was barred by 

 threatening tusks. The choice now lay be- 

 tween being butted into deep water or entermg 

 it voluntarily, and the haste with which a 

 decision was taken as the big tusker approached 

 the next victim was almost ludicrous. 



Last of all, Maula Bux himself entered the 

 stream. There was some eight feet of strong- 

 swirling water around him ere he lost his foot- 

 hold, then, with powerful strokes he made his 

 way across, standing in the shallows, curling 



