ELEPHANTS 89 



took care to thrust my hook always in the same spot, 

 tearing a raw wound in his side, while the other 

 men caught him on the legs and on the trunk. We 

 had to work fast to keep away from the big trunk 

 as it cut through the air, and his feet, when he 

 kicked. Each of us was sent sprawling several 

 times before the fight was over. 



At last I could see that the elephant was paying 

 more attention to the wound I was making than to 

 anything else we were doing; he favored the hurt 

 side and tried to shield it. Then, with a bellow, he 

 knelt down and dropped on his side to cover the 

 wound. 



While I kept him down, Ali arranged the hob- 

 bles ; then we petted him and allowed him to stand. 

 He got to his feet doubtfully, as if he weren't sure 

 that we were not playing a trick on him urging 

 him to stand up so that we could jab him again. 

 The wound I had torn in his side was large enough 

 for two fists, and it must have pained him terribly. 

 He was worn out by the fight and he hobbled off 

 to his new stall, much subdued. Several days later 

 he came out of the "must" period, which rarely 

 lasts for more than a week, and became again the 

 docile elephant that took children on his back for a 

 ride. 



I went to see him several times before I returned 

 to Singapore, and, when I entered the stall, he edged 

 away from me, protecting his side. Years later, I 

 went to Sydney and entered his stall. He didn't 



