1 66 IN THE INDIAN JUNGLE. 



dent, but what it was none could say. Most of those 

 assembled at the camp had climbed into trees over- 

 looking the kheddah, and could see the huge black 

 masses huddled on one another and squealing most 

 shrilly. Now and again there would be an interval 

 of silence within the kheddah and the mountain 

 of flesh would disentangle itself and the elephants 

 hurry off here and there, leaving many of their 

 number dead or dying. The tame elephants were 

 sent for and soon arrived on the scene, but none 

 dared to enter the enclosure, so appalling was the 

 sight that gradually unfolded itself. The whole 

 enclosure was strewed with dead and dying ele- 

 phants, and a huge tusker was seen driving deep 

 his tusks into the bodies of his fallen victims, stamp- 

 ing on those that showed the least signs of life, and 

 kicking the carcases here and there in his diabolical 

 rage, emitting at the same time the most unearthly 

 yells and screams that had ever been heard from 

 one of these brutes. When satisfied that the body 

 before him was lifeless, away he would charge after 

 the herd and single out another victim. There 

 was no escape. The enclosure was of limited ex- 

 tent, and strewn as it was with the bodies of dead 

 and dying elephants it prevented any lengthened 

 chase. Elephant after elephant had fallen before 

 his blind fury, and now all was still within. By 

 this time the spectators of this ghastly scene had 

 formed some idea of what had happened, and the 

 guns were sent for. None of the tame elephants 

 would approach the kheddah. They appeared to 

 know what had happened, and with trunk elevated 



