Planning an Attack. 87 



The firing had disturbed a herd of elephants from 

 the forest, and they had swam the large river in the 

 neighborhood, which was at that time so swollen that 

 we could not cross it. We, therefore, struck off to the 

 edge of the forest where the waters of the lake washed 

 the roots of the trees, and from this point we had a fine 

 view of the greater portion of the lake. 



All the rogues that we had at first counted had retired 

 to their several entrances in the forest, except the pair of 

 desperadoes already mentioned — the}- knew no fear and 

 had not heeded the shots fired. They were tempting 

 baits, and we determined to get them if possible. 

 These two villains were standing belly-deep in the 

 water, about a quarter of a mile from the shore ; and 

 the question was, " How were we to get near them !" 

 Having observed that the other rogues had retreated to 

 the forest at the noise of the firing, it struck me that 

 we might by some ruse induce these two champions to 

 follow their example, and, by meeting them on their 

 entrance, we might bring them to action. 



Not far upon our left, a long shallow bank, covered 

 with reeds, stretched far into the tank. By wading 

 knee-deep along this shoal, a man might approach to 

 within two hundred paces of the elephants, and would 

 be nearly abreast of them. I, therefore, gave a man a 

 gun, and instructed him to advance to the extreme end 

 of the shallows, taking care to conceal himself in the 

 rushes, and when at the nearest point he was to fire at 

 the elephants. This, I hoped, would drive them to the 

 jungle, where we should endeavor to meet them. 



The Moorman entrusted upon this mission was a 

 plucky fellow, and he started off, taking a double gun 

 and a few charges of powder and ball. The elephant- 



