38 WILD 15EASTS AND THEM WAYS CHAP. 



crunch as some opi>osing branches were torn down to- clear the 

 way. 



I was mounted upon a female elephant, a good creature named 

 Nielmonnt', who was reputed to he staunch, but as the line of 

 beaters approached nearer, and the varied sounds increased in 

 intensity, she became very nervous and restless, starting should a 

 small deer dart out of the jungle, and evidently expecting moment- 

 arily the appearance of the enemy. There are very few elephants 

 that will remain unmoved when awaiting the advance of a line of 

 beaters, whether they may be of their own species or human beings. 

 On this occasion the rushing sound of the yielding jungle, which 

 was so thick as to test the elephants' powers in clearing a passage 

 through it, was presently varied by a sharp trumpet, then by 

 a low growl, followed by that peculiar noise emitted by elephants 

 when excited, resembling blows upon a tambourine or kettle- 

 drum. This is a sound that invariably is heard whenever an 

 elephant detects the fresh scent of a tiger ; and Nielmonne', instead 

 of standing quiet, became doubly excited, as she evidently under- 

 stood that the dreaded game was on foot, and advancing before 

 the line. 



As I was posted at the sharp angle of the corner, I presently 

 observed several elephants emerge upon my left and right, as the 

 line advanced with wonderful regularity, and so close were the 

 animals together that it was most unlikely any tiger could have 

 broken back. 



My servant Michael was behind me in the howdah. He was a 

 quiet man, who thoroughly understood his work, and seldom spoke 

 without being first addressed. On this occasion he broke through 

 the rule. "Nothing in this beat, sahib," he exclaimed. . . . 

 " Hold your tongue, Michael, till the cover's beaten out. Haven't 

 I often told you that you can't tell what's in the jungle until the 

 last corner is gone through ? " 



Nearly all the elephants were now out, and only about half a 

 dozen remained in the jungle, all still advancing in correct line, 

 and perhaps a dozen yards remaining of dense reeds and creeps 

 forming the acute angle at the extremity. They still came on. 

 Two or three of the msxhoiits shouted, " The tiger's behind, we 

 must go back and take a longer beat." Nothing remained now 

 except six or seven yards of the sharp corner, and the elephants 

 marched forward, when a tremendous roar suddenly startled them 

 in .ill directions, and one of the largest tigers I have ever seen 

 sprang forward directly towards Nielmonne, who, I am ashamed 

 to say, spun round as though upon a pivot, and prevented me 



