144 The Life of an Elephant 



had passed him. A shot rang out dully, muffled 

 in the interlaced crown of the trees, but no 

 sign was given by the frightened animal. The 

 hunters followed, and some yards ahead found 

 blood on the trail. They followed eagerly until 

 the gallop of the hunted was reduced to a walk, 

 and then they too acted with circumspection. 



To a wounded animal comes after the first 

 flurry a determination to reach some place of 

 fancied security, and as long as self-control lasts 

 the line of retreat will be straight towards a 

 fixed point. Zig-zagging in the track denotes 

 growing weakness and inability to persist in 

 any given direction. But this trail led almost 



straight through the 



i 



forest, and dis- 

 appeared at last in 

 a sea of high grass, 

 wherein man was 

 of himself helpless. 

 Here, then, the ele- 

 phant was- called 



upon to assist, and slowly the party entered 

 the stronghold of the wounded buffalo. Not 



