70 THE OUT-STATION; OR, 



our way like two boa-constrictors through the under- 

 wood, in any thing but a delectable state either of 

 mind or body. 



Look sharp, now ! Up goes the old man's hand in 

 the air, and at the signal down we drop as mute and 

 motionless as a pair of oysters, expecting the next 

 moment to have the whole of the herd on the top 

 of us. 



Leaving us in this position for a minute or two 

 (it seems an hour) the finder crawls forwards on hands 

 and feet, every now and then peering above the 

 branches to get a view of the quarry. 



A slight beckon with his hand, without a turn of 

 his head, releases us from our uncomfortable position, 

 and again we are creeping slowly towards him. 



He points forward, whispering at the same moment 

 " Ellia !" (the elephants !) 



We are at the extremity of a patch of jungle, and 

 the animals are located in an open spot about twenty 

 yards ahead, but still we are unable to perceive them, 

 so silent are they, and so exactly do their bodies resem- 

 ble in their hue the natural appearance of the jungle 

 itself. 



A sudden report of a gun on our right alters the 

 scene entirely. It is as if a stone was hurled into a 

 wasp's nest. 



In another second we burst into the open space, and 

 find ourselves in the centre of about forty wild ele- 

 phants, all running here and there, wheeling and 



