In Training for Sport 115 



opponent with tusk, or crush him underfoot ; 

 but to stand without movement, trusting to his 

 rider to stop the onslaught, was almost too much 

 for his endurance. Indeed, on one occasion he 

 had met his adversary with tusks held hori- 

 zontally, and before the tiger could get his hold, 

 had hurled him to the ground and stamped him 

 to a pulp, only to be scolded, even chastised for 

 following his own instincts and not reposing 

 perfect confidence in his master. The elephant 

 had witnessed some accidents happen in the 

 early period of his hunting life ; he had seen a 

 tiger, seemingly fixed to the head of a defence- 

 less elephant, pulling it to earth or clinging to 

 its hind-quarters, biting and scratching through 

 some supreme seconds of satisfying vengeance. 

 He was on such occasions always eager to rush 

 into the fray, to force his blunted tusks through 

 the attacker until his grip relaxed : but here 

 also he was prevented from interfering, and 

 by degrees became so obedient that even in 

 moments of the greatest urgency he would await 

 the word of command. 



Thus he gradually attained to the highest pitch 



