230 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



rattle. The ground is piled with dead and dying. The 

 elephants can hardly stand, and the lions have retreated 

 into one corner. 



Suddenly the leader of the elephants reopens the fight. 

 With a rush as irresistible as the tides, he charges upon 

 the largest lion, and seizing him around the middle with 

 his mighty trunk, he lifts him high as the tribunes' seats, 

 and hurls him down a lifeless mass among his friends 

 again. Instantly they leap at hazard upon the heads of 

 their foes, and fasten their teeth and claws in any soft 

 spot they can find, only to be crushed against the side 

 of the arena by the agonized elephants. And now, into 

 this nearly equal struggle, comes a third enemy — man! 

 A band of gladiators attack elephant and tiger alike with 

 their redoubtaljle swords, avoiding the maddened beasts, 

 and dealing deadly blows to right and left. The victory 

 evidently will be theirs, when suddenly the elephants, 

 wild with pain, turn, like bulls, upon the barriers which 

 protect the cruel spectators ! They wish to try their 

 strength with the cowards who have caused this needless 

 slaughter. A panic ensues. Even Pompey grows pale 

 as he sees the terrible vengeance with which his brutal 

 subjects are threatened by his less brutal brutes. Human 

 blood is evidently to run in the sands already dyed deep 

 in gore, when, at a fortunate moment, a handful of slaves 

 reinforces the gladiators, and the danger is past. A great 

 sigh of relief goes up from the circus, and the enjoyment 

 of the day is complete! 



