ADVENTURE WITH A WILD ELEPHANT 



and an occasional swaying of the trunk. But in these 

 seemingly harmless movements there was danger, as the 

 more experienced of those present knew, for such action 

 in an elephant often precedes an attack. At the same 

 time there was nothing to be done, for to fire at the 

 animal then would in all probability have precipitated the 

 attack. 



Fortunately, however, the beast was not, apparently, 

 in a pugnacious mood just then, for after a" minute or two, 

 which to the helpless crowd awaiting its decision, must 

 have seemed the longest in their lives, it turned slowly 

 round, and picking its steps carefully through the tents' 

 ropes, strode majestically away. 



But the danger was not over yet, for presently it stopped, 

 and with its body half turned towards the camp, was stand- 

 ing in a thoughtful attitude as if meditating whether it 

 would not be better to advance again, when my friend, 

 thinking rightly that at this critical moment a sudden 

 shock might change the current of its thoughts, fired both 

 barrels into its stern. 



The effect was instantaneous. With a squeal of pain, 

 rage, or fear possibly all three the huge animal scuttled 

 off as fast as it could go, seeming quite ridiculous in the 

 anxiety it exhibited to be off, and thus bringing to a comical 

 conclusion what had come perilously near to being a very 

 serious tragedy, for there was no limit to the damage it 

 might have done had it charged into the crowd. 



With the possibility of experiencing adventures such 

 as these, always present, added to the free, healthy life 

 he leads during this period, it is no wonder that the official 

 Anglo-Indian should look forward to the camping season, 

 for after the long weary months of heat and toil, it comes as 

 an oasis, so to speak, in the desert of his late existence. 



Moreover, as already mentioned in a previous chapter, 

 it is during these cold- weather tours generally at Christmas 

 time that shooting parties are made up, when, by previous 

 arrangement, the various officials of the district meet and 

 camp together for a week or more, each carrying on his 

 own duties, but devoting his leisure hours to sport. On 

 these occasions it is usual to have a general mess, one large 

 tent being set apart for this purpose, in which, after the 



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