64 The Life of an Elephant 



in which unreserved obedience was oriven to the 



o 



wisest : and amongst the forest tribes the 

 wisest is generally of the weaker sex ; for 

 that sex, because of its weakness, becomes of 

 necessity the best qualified by nature to detect 

 a coming danger, and to devise means of escape. 

 The herd had been grazing in one part of 

 the country for some time ; food and water 

 were plentiful, and, though they more than 

 once started on the march to new ground, yet 

 they had somewhat listlessly given up the 

 attempt on finding human beings busy in their 

 path. In fact, though they did not know it, 

 they were surrounded by a wide circle of men, 

 whose endeavour was to keep them within 

 certain boundaries. The broad valley was shut 

 j in by precipitous hills, through 

 which were only two easy 

 passages marking the inlet and 

 outflow of a stream, and these 

 passages were well guarded by 

 men armed with guns, 

 . who, moreover, kept fires 



blazing night and day. 



