THE TERROR OF HUNSUR. 55 



as if reassured would get up and smile and shake 

 his hands. It was plainly not liquor that made him 

 behave in this manner ; the poor fellow had actually 

 become an imbecile through fear. It was hopeless 

 attempting to get any information from such an 

 object, so handing him over to the care of the 

 medical officer, a search party mounted on ele- 

 phants was at once organised and sent off in the 

 direction of Frazerpett, twenty-four miles distant, 



where D J s camp was. When they got about 



half-way they were met by a native forest ranger, 

 who asked them to stop and come back with 

 him to a country cart that followed, in which 

 were the dead bodies of the two unfortunate 

 officers of whom they were in search. On coming 

 up with the cart and examining its contents a most 

 gruesome sight met their eyes. There, rolled up 

 in a native kumbly (blanket), was an indistinguish- 

 able mass of human flesh, mud, and clothing. 

 Crushed out of all shape, the bodies were inextri- 

 cably mixed together, puddled into one mass by 

 the great feet of the must elephant. None dared 

 touch the shapeless heap, where nought but the 

 boot-covered feet were distinguishable to show that 

 two human beings lay there. A deep gloom fell 

 on all, natives and Europeans alike ; none dared 

 speak above a whisper, and in silence the search 

 party turned back, taking with them what was 

 once two gallant young officers, but now an object 

 that made anyone shudder to look at. The forest 

 ranger's story was soon told : he had been an 

 eye-witness of the tragic occurrence. Here it is :- 



