236 THE RIFLE AND HOUND IN CEYLON, chap. x. 



not wish to pursue him farther. I was at length per- 

 suaded by Banda to make a trial, and we accordingly 

 left the track, and pushed our way through the high 

 grass to some rising ground, from which we could look 

 over the surface of waving vegetation, and find out the 

 exact position of the elephant. While forcing our way 

 through the dense mass, I momentarily expected to 

 hear the rush of the rogue charging down upon us, 

 and I was glad to find myself at length safe in the 

 position we had steered for. 



Upon scanning the surface of the grass, I distin- 

 guished the elephant immediately ; he was standing 

 close to the edge of the jungle in the high grass facing 

 us, at about 1 50 yards distant. He was a picture of 

 intense excitement and attention, and was evidently 

 waiting for us. In the position that we now occupied, 

 we unavoidably gave him the wind, and he of course 

 almost immediately discovered us. Giving two or 

 three shrill trumpets, he paced quickly to and fro 

 before the jungle, as though he were guarding the 

 entrance. To enter the high grass to attack him, 

 would have been folly, as he was fully prepared, and 

 when once in the tangled mass we could not have seen 

 him until he was upon us ; we therefore amused our- 

 selves for about ten minutes by shouting at him. 

 During this time he continued pacing backwards and 

 forwards, screaming almost without intermission ; and 

 having suddenly made up his mind to stand this 



