176 The Life of an Elephant 



those other times, when, though subject to man, 



he roamed the jungles in sympathy with him. 

 The elephant had leaned forward to draw a 



branch of the green fodder from the pile before 

 him, and was instantly 

 aware of a sharp blow on 

 the end of his extended 

 trunk. A black snake was 

 rearing its head from 

 amongst the wilted foliage, 

 hissing gently as it waved 



to and fro. The elephant raised his massive 



fore-foot, and without haste crushed the reptile 



as a man might crush any noxious insect. Then 



he stood as if considering the matter. 



The pain from the bite flowed in a stream of 



fire up his trunk, and he 



commenced to rock from side 



to side in agony ; now it 



reached his brain and seemed 



to numb it with its force ; it 



poured like red hot lava 



through his veins, so that his 



legs trembled and refused to 



