Approaching a Tank Rogue. 79 



elephants, who seldom move far from the lakes, but 

 infest the shores of the tanks for many years. Being 

 quite alone with the exception of two worthless gun- 

 bearers, the plan of attack required some consideration. 



The belt of trees in which I stood was the nearest 

 piece of cover to the elephant, the main jungle being 

 about a quarter of a mile from the shore of the lake. 

 In the event of a retreat being necessary, this cover 

 would therefore be my point. There was a large 

 tamarind tree growing alone upon the plain about a 

 hundred and fifty paces from the water's edge, exactly 

 in a line with the position of the elephant. The mud 

 plastered to a great height upon the stem showed this 

 to be his favorite rubbing-post after bathing. 



Having determined upon my plan of attack, I took 

 the guns from the gun-bearers and sent the men up the 

 tree, as I knew they would run away in the event of 

 danger, and would most probably take the guns with 

 them in their flight. Having thus secured the guns, I 

 placed the long two-ounce against a large and con- 

 spicuous tree that grew upon the extreme edge of the 

 forest, and I cautiously advanced over the open plain 

 with my two remaining guns, one of which I deposited 

 against the stem of the single tamarind tree. I had. 

 thus two points for a defensive retreat, should it be ne- 

 cessary. 



I had experienced considerable difficulty in attaining 

 my position at the tamarind tree without being observed 

 by the elephant ; fortunately, I had both the wind and 

 the sun favorable, the latter shining from my back full 

 into the lake. 



The elephant was standing with his back to the shore 

 exactly in a line with me, and he was swinging his 



