A CASE FOR A V.C, 



These movements were repeated several times, till the 

 mahout, satisfied that the beast was once more under 

 his control, rode it to its old quarters. There he got off, 

 and, restoring the picket to its place, stooped down and 

 calmly secured the animal's front leg ! 



This extraordinarily daring feat concluded a perform- 

 ance as remarkable for the audacity of its conception as 

 for the cool, deliberate courage exhibited by the man 

 throughout the whole proceedings. Many a daring deed 

 is done on the impulse of the moment which, if well con- 

 sidered, might never have been performed. But this was 

 not one of those, for the man knew well from its inception 

 the risks he was undertaking. The terrible tragedy he 

 had witnessed only the day before was in itself sufficient 

 warning of his fate, should he fail in his attempt ; and yet 

 he was but a weak, puny-looking creature, whom no one 

 to look at would believe possessed any of the rare qualities 

 he had shown. However, such is often the material of 

 which heroes are made, and many a cross " For Valour " 

 has been won by men of like physique, when stronger men 

 have been content to stand by and look on ! 



I may add that some three months after this incident, 

 the elephant broke out again one morning when returning 

 from its bath, and, throwing its mahout, who fortunately 

 escaped by climbing up a tree, made off into the forest. 

 There it was tracked, and despite the man's entreaties to 

 be allowed to capture it again, was ultimately hunted down 

 and shot. 



Meanwhile the tiger we had come out to kill probably 

 frightened by the tumult had apparently made off, for 

 though we beat for it daily during our stay, no further 

 sign of it was found. However, as the cattle slaying 

 ceased entirely we felt that our trouble had not been in 

 vain. 



43 



