406 AN INTERLOPER. 



The behavior of the strange elephant was for all the world like a prowling 

 enemy looking for a chance to do his foes some evil. 



After observing the sportive beasts for a few minutes, the interloper resumed 

 his advance, though with less care than before. He must have known that he 

 would soon be detected. 



Such was the case. All at once the elephants ceased their pranks, and turned 

 their huge heads in the direction of the new arrival, as if to inquire what he wanted. 

 He threw up his trunk and emitted his own peculiar call, probably meaning it for 

 a friendly salutation. 



But if such was its purport, it was received in anything but a spirit of comity. 

 With one accord, the herd, headed by the gigantic bull, charged upon the stranger. 

 There could be no mistaking their fury, and the interloper was too wise to stand his 

 ground. 



The flight and pursuit of the intruder brought the whole party so close to our 

 friends that discovery was sure. Dick and Mr. Godkin hugged the ground as 

 close as they could, but the charging bull saw them, and, trumpeting the alarm, 

 made a wide detour, followed by all that came after him. 



The opportunity for a shot as they lumbered past was excellent, but neither 

 fired, content to leave the animals alone, so long as it was not necessary to shoot 

 in self-defense. 



It is hardly to be supposed that the pursuers overtook the fugitive, judging 

 from the exhibition he gave, but the chase quickly carried all beyond sight of our 

 friends, who rose to their feet and started back to camp, where the horses and 

 servants had been left. 



"That interloper," explained Mr. Godkin, "is what is known as a 'goondah/ or 

 ' sawn,' or ' rogue elephant.' In Ceylon he is called a ' hora.' " 



Dick's inquiring looks showed that this was something of which he was igno- 

 rant, having come across nothing referring to such a ceature in all his reading of 

 natural history. 



" You have seen," continued the elder, glad to give such a bright lad informa- 

 tion, " that the elephants generally herd together, the companies sometimes num- 

 bering a dozen or a score, though they are more generally of the dimensions of 

 the bathers. It now and then happens that one belonging to a herd becomes 

 separated from the rest and is unable to find them again. He may hunt long and 

 patiently, but the chances are against his success. 



"If that proves the case, he becomes an outcast, for no other herd will suffer 

 him to join them. He may attempt it, but the rest reject all his overtures and 

 drive him off. If he insists on staying, the others will attack, and most likely kill 

 him. Henceforth, he is a ' goondah,' or ' rogue.' " 



" And why that ? " 



" His expatriation, if we may call it such, makes him vicious. He seems to 

 conclude that, since his own species have turned against him, he will become an 

 Ishmaelite and make a general nuisance of himself. I have known a ' rogue ' in 



