372 THE ELEPHANT. [Part VIII. 



It was now about two hours after noon, and the first 

 elephants that had entered tlie corral having been 

 disposed of, preparations were made to reopen the gate, 

 and drive in the other two herds, over which the 

 watchers were still keeping guard. Tlie area of the 

 enclosure was cleared ; silence was again imposed on the 

 crowds who surrounded the corral. The bars which 

 secured the entrance were withdrawn, and every pre- 

 caution repeated as before ; but as tlie space inside was 

 now somewhat trodden down, especially near the en- 

 trance, by the frequent charges of the last herd, and it 

 was to be apprehended that the others might be earher 

 alarmed and retrace their steps, before the barricades 

 could be replaced, two tame ones were stationed inside 

 to protect the men to whom that duty was assigned. 



All prehminaries being at length completed, the 

 signal was given ; the beaters on the side most distant 

 fi'om the corral closed in with tom-toms and discor- 

 dant noises ; a hedge-fire of musketry was kept up in 

 the rear of the terrified elef)hants ; thousands of voices 

 urged them forward ; we heard the jungle crashing as 

 they came on, and at last they advanced througli an 

 opening amongst the trees, bearing down all before 

 them like a cliarge of locomotives. They were led 

 by a huge female, nearly nine feet high, after whom 

 dashed one ]mlf precipitately through the narrow en- 

 trance, but the rest turning suddenly towards the left, 

 succeeded in forcing the cordon of guards and made 

 good their escape to the forest. 



No sooner had the others passed tlie gate, than tlie 

 two tame elephants stepped forward from either side, 

 and before the herd could return from the further end 

 of the enclosure, the bars were drawn, the entrance 

 closed, and the men in charge glided outside the 

 stockade. 



The elephants which had previously been made pri- 

 soners within exhibited intense excitement as the fresh 

 dm arose around them ; they started to their feet, and 



