CHAP. vi. A MONAMPJTYA ROGUE. \t% 



grew upon the surface, but for the most part it was 

 covered by a short though luxuriant grass. One large 

 tree grew within fifty yards of the extreme point of 

 the promontory, and another of the same kind grew 

 at an equal distance from it, but nearer to the main 

 land. Upon both these trees was a coat of thick mud 

 not many hours old. The bark was rubbed completely 

 away, and this appeared to have been used for years 

 as a favourite rubbing-post by some immense elephant. 

 The mud reached full twelve feet up the trunk of the 

 tree, and there were old marks far above this which 

 had been scored by his tusks. There was no doubt 

 that one of these tank rogues of extraordinary size 

 had frequented this spot for years, and still continued 

 to do so, the mud upon the tree being still soft, as 

 though it had been left there that morning. I already 

 coveted him, and having my telescope with me, I took 

 a minute survey of the opposite shore, which was 

 about half a mile distant and was lined with fine open 

 forest to the water's edge. Nothing was visible. I 

 examined the other side of the lake with the same 

 want of success. Although it was such a quiet spot, 

 with beautiful grass and water, there was not a single 

 head of game to be seen. Again I scrutinised the 

 opposite shore. The glass was no sooner raised to 

 my eye than I started at the unexpected apparition. 

 There was no mistaking him ; he had appeared as 



