Some Dangers of the Forest 155 



drowning. With his eyes below the surface of 

 the water the trunk still continued to grope on 

 all sides for something to grasp, till in a lucky 

 movement it encountered the stem of a willow 

 tree. Instantly the powerful member was coiled 

 around it, and it was evident that if the tree held 

 there was a chance of escape from the terrible 

 position. The tree indeed bent and cracked, 

 and the roots were strained to the utmost, but at 

 last with a mighty effort Maula Bux hauled him- 

 self up the bank and stood, covered with mud, on 

 the further side of the stream. Then glancing 

 round with blood-shot eyes, he seemed to search 

 for the enemy that had done him this wrong. 

 The men stood silently watching, afraid to 

 interfere. They passed unnoticed, but there 

 were trees and grasses on which to vent his 

 fury, and these he proceeded to overthrow and 

 trample on, till around him was a wide space 

 cleared of every living thing. This senseless 

 rage wore itself out at last, and it was a 

 fatigued elephant that later submitted to be led 

 quietly away. Yet both he and the mahout 

 had learnt their lesson ; the one in future would 



