Anecdote. 53 



early hour, and all my followers to retire to rest, I took 

 up my post of observation on the overhanging bough ; 

 but I had to remain for upwards of two hours before any- 

 thing was to be seen or heard of the elephants, although 

 I knew they were within 500 yards of me. At length, 

 about the distance of 300 yards from the water, an 

 unusually large elephant issued from the dense cover, 

 and advanced cautiously across the open ground to within 

 100 yards of the tank, where he stood perfectly motion- 

 less. So quiet had the elephants become (although they 

 had been roaring and breaking the jungle throughout 

 the day and evening), that not a movement was now to 

 be heard. The huge vidette remained in his position, 

 still as a rock, for a few minutes, and then made three 

 successive stealthy advances of several yards (halting for 

 some minutes between each, with ears bent forward to 

 catch the slightest sound), and in this way he moved 

 slowly up to the water's edge. Still he did not venture 

 to quench his thirst, for though his fore feet were partially 

 in the tank and his vast body was reflected clear in the 

 water, he remained for some minutes listening in perfect 

 stillness. Not a motion could be perceived in himself or 

 his shadow. He returned cautiously and slowly to the 

 position he had at first taken up on emerging from the 

 forest. Here in a little while he was joined by five 

 others, with which he again proceeded as cautiously, but 

 less slowly than before, to within a few yards of the 

 tank, and then posted his patrols. He then re-entered 

 the forest and collected around him the whole herd, 

 which must have amounted to between 80 and 100 



