92 THE OUT-STATION ; OR, 



found poor Rogers sitting up to his neck in water, 

 in a frame of body and mind which we may conclude 

 to be "more easily imagined than described." 



It was in the noviciate of this extraordinary 

 sportsman that the following occurrence took place 

 in the neighbourhood of Trincomalee. 



A frigate had arrived at the station, and as a matter 

 of course its officers were feted as well as the garrison 

 would permit ; and it was finally arranged that the 

 captain and as many as could get away on leave 

 should make an excursion a few miles inland, in 

 hopes of seeing some sport among the elephants, 

 accompanied by many crack elephant-shots as a safe- 

 guard to the more inexperienced. 



The important morning arrived, and a party of 

 about twenty sallied forth to a place called Cottiar, 

 which is generally a resort of all kinds of animals, 

 and as hot and unhealthy a place as can well be found 

 beneath the sun. 



Elephants were soon found in all directions, so the 

 party, to avoid spoiling each other's sport, by degrees 

 began to separate into smaller parties of three or 

 four, as the elephants became more plentiful. 



About mid-day, Rogers found himself heading a 

 party of half-a-dozen young " reefers," as well as 

 the captain of the frigate ; and by the trumpetings 

 and screechings of elephants in a small patch of 

 jungle a-head, there was evidently good sport in 

 store, by using caution and not being too much in a 



