358 THE ELEPHANT. [Part VIIF. 



the sport. Having entered the corral noiselessly, she 

 moved 8lo^YIy along with a sly composure and an 

 assumed air of easy indifference ; sauntering leisurely in 

 the direction of the captives, and halting now and then to 

 pluck a bunch of grass or a few leaves as she passed. 

 As she approached the herd, they put themselves in 

 motion to meet her, and the leader, lia\'ing advanced in 

 fi'ont and passed his trunk gently over her head, 

 tiu^ned and paced slowly back to his dejected compa- 

 nions. Skibeddi followed with the same listless step, and 

 drew herself up close behind him, thus affording the 

 nooser an opportunity to stoop under her and shp the 

 noose over the hind foot of the wild one. The latter 

 instantly perceived his danger, shook off the rope, and 

 tiu'ued to attack the man. He woidd have suffered for his 

 temerity, had not Suibeddi protected him by raising her 

 trunk and driving the assailant into the midst of the 

 herd, when the old man, being shghtly wounded, was 

 helped out of the corral, and his son, Eanghanie, took liis 

 place. 



The herd again collected in a cu^cle, with their 

 heads towards the centre. The largest male was 

 singled out, and two tame ones pushed boldly in, 

 one on either side of him, till the tlrree stood nearly 

 abreast. He made no resistance, but betraj^ed his un- 

 easiness by shifting restlessly from foot to foot. Eang- 

 hanie now crept up, and, hokhng the rope open with 

 both hands (its other extremity being made fast to 

 Siribeddi's collar, and watching the instant when the 

 wild elephant hfted its hind-foot, he succeeded in pass- 

 ing the noose over its leg, di^ew it close, and fled to the 

 rear. The two tame elephants instantly fell back, Siri- 

 beddi stretched the rope to its full length, and, whilst 

 she dragged out the captive, her companion placed 

 himself between her and the herd to prevent any inter- 

 ference. 



In order to secure him to a tree he liad to be drawn 

 backwards some twenty or tlikty yards, making furious 



