Another Capture. 143 



the trees, bearing down all before them like a charge of 

 locomotives. They were led by a huge female, nearly 

 nine feet high, after Avhom one half of the herd dashed 

 precipitately through the narrow entrance, but the rest, 

 turning suddenly towards the left, succeeded in forcing 

 the cordon of guards and making good their escape to 

 the forest. 



No sooner had the others passed in through the gate, 

 than the tame elephants stepped forward from either side, 

 and before the herd could return from the further end 

 of the enclosure, the bars were replaced, the entrance 

 closed, and the men in charge glided outside the stockade. 

 The elephants which had previously been made prisoners 

 within exhibited intense excitement as the fresh din 

 arose around them ; they started to their feet, and 

 stretched their trunks in the direction whence they 

 winded the scent of the herd in its headlong flight ; and 

 as the latter rushed past, they renewed their struggles 

 to get free and follow. It is not possible to imagine 

 anything more exciting than the spectacle which the 

 wild ones presented careering round the corral, uttering 

 piercing screams, with heads erect and trunks aloft, the 

 very emblems of rage and perplexity, of power and help- 

 lessness. 



Along with those which entered at the second drive 

 was one that evidently belonged to another herd, and 

 had been separated from it in the melk when the latter 

 effected their escape, and, as usual, his new companions 

 in misfortune drove him off indignantly as often as he 

 attempted to approach them. 



