164 



"The Life of an Elephant 



some background, whose beauty had, all un- 

 known to themselves at the time, permanently 

 impressed itself on their memories. 



At rare intervals both man and elephant 

 were given the chance of revisiting the scenes 

 they loved so well. There would be bustle 

 and hurry at headquarters in preparation for 

 the visit of some potentate. Harness and 

 howdahs were being burnished ; tents standing 

 in rows of snowy whiteness were being repaired ; 

 strings of bullock carts were tailing along the 

 road with stores of furniture and provisions. In 

 the forest for leagues around, pit-falls were being- 

 dug to entrap the tigers and panthers, so that 

 the local supply within reach of a central camp 

 might not fall short ; for it is in the nature of 



things that those animals 

 require a large 



supply of living food must 



