EDWARD BUEGESS. 75 



having twined Ms trunk around hers, returned to his 

 place. She followed him and placed herself alongside 

 in such a position that the nooser could run underneath 

 her and slip the rope over the elephant's hind foot. 

 The wild elephant at once perceived his danger, shook it 

 off, and would have taken summary vengeance on the 

 man had not Siribeddi interposed and prevented his 

 following him. The nooser ran out slightly injured and 

 another took his place. This time both decoys placed 

 themselves alongside of the other and the nooser suc- 

 ceeded in slipping the rope around his hind leg and 

 securing it. He then ran out. The other end of the 

 rope was fastened to the collar on Siribeddi' s neck, who 

 at once commenced to drag the captive out to the near- 

 est tree. The wild one made an active resistance, kick- 

 ing and bellowing all the time. Siribeddi reached the 

 tree and made a turn around it with the rope, but was 

 unable to get her victim any closer. The other decoy, 

 seeing the situation, came forward to help, and putting 

 her shoulder and head alternately against her struggling 

 brother, slowly pushed him back to the tree. Here the 

 other hind leg was fastened. It was now necessary to 

 secure the front ones. The two decoys again stood on 

 either side of the frightened captive, the rope was adjust- 

 ed, but the elephant seized it in his mouth and would have 

 bitten it in two in a few moments but for the decoy, who 

 stepped upon it with her foot and brought it to the 

 ground again. The decoys seemed to understand what 

 was needed in every emergency and always did the right 

 thing at the right time without being told and without 

 any flurry or excitement. Thus, when one of the ele- 

 phants had wound the rope around the tree several 

 times before he had been brought close to it, Siribeddi, 

 perceiving the situation, began pushing against the side 

 and head of the captive until he had unwound himself. 

 The decoys seemed to enjoy the sport keenly, not inflict- 



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