chap. v. THE RHATAMAHATMEYA'S TALE. 103 



engaged in sorting and tying into bundles the rushes 

 which they had been gathering during the day for 

 making mats. They were on the point of starting 

 homeward with their loads, when the sudden trumpet 

 of an elephant was heard, and to their horror they saw 

 the well-known rogue, with the unmistakable mark 

 upon his forehead, coming down in full charge upon 

 them. The ground was perfectly open ; there were 

 no trees for some hundred yards, except the jungle 

 from which he was advancing at a frightful speed. An 

 indiscriminate flight of course took place, and a race of 

 terror commenced. In a few seconds the monster was 

 among them, and, seizing a young girl in his trunk, he 

 held her high in the air, and halted, as though uncer- 

 tain how to dispose of his helpless victim. The girl, 

 meanwhile, was vainly shrieking for assistance, and 

 the petrified troop of women, having gained the 

 shelter of some jungle, gazed panic-stricken upon the 

 impending fate of their companion. 



1 To their horror the elephant slowly lowered her 

 in his trunk till near the ground, when he gradually 

 again raised her, and, bringing her head into his mouth, 

 a report was heard like the crack of a whip — it was 

 the sudden crushing of her skull. Tearing the head 

 off by the neck, he devoured it ; and, placing his fore- 

 foot upon the body, he tore the arms and legs from 

 their sockets with his trunk, and devoured every por- 

 tion of her. 



