THE ELEPHANT. 157 



The hunter whom we have just named was encamped 

 on the shores of the Sooswa. There were a number of 

 elephants in the camp ; and towards midnight they 

 showed signs of disquietude, and at first uttered 

 short shrill notes ; then they made the jungle resound 

 with their roars, which were almost immediately re- 

 sponded to, first from one point, then from another, 

 till the night appeared to be peopled with their voices. 



Every one was afoot immediately. " As we were 

 endeavouring to look into the darkness, we suddenly 

 recognized the presence of a great pioneer tusk-bearer, 

 close to our elephants ; then large moving masses in 

 the neighbourhood, which appeared to rise and fall. 

 Sometimes a large opaque body, which we had mistaken 

 for a tree or a bush, and, as such, neglected, would 

 suddenly disappear into space in solemn silence, whilst 

 obscure outlines of arched backs and trunks passed 

 before our eyes, like the phantoms of a dream, which 

 are lost in the night. Suddenly the leader of the 

 herd seemed to take alarm, and we heard a long 

 splashing, during which the elephants were crossing 

 the waves of the Sooswa, from our side. 



" There was a gap in the bank of the river near to 

 us, and, as the leaders of the elephants chose this 

 route, we soon saw the whole sombre column glide to 

 the coast from us in a bluish light, as regularly as tho 

 images in the slides of a magic-lantern. 



