8 The Life of an Elephant 



hidden in the fog. Again a movement was 

 heard, and from below a single elephant 

 approached, carelessly follow- 

 ing in the trail of the herd. 

 As he gained the top of the 

 pass he stood motionless, save 

 for the twitching of the ex- 

 tended trunk, which sucked up the air and 

 brought him such information as he required 

 as to his surroundings. He stood, black as 

 ebony against the white of the mist, on short 

 stout legs with heavy bulk of body and straight 

 back. His forehead was broad, and the huge 

 trunk tapered away so that its fingered end 

 lay on the ground at his feet. Two sharp 

 and thick tusks gleamed below the intelligent 

 hazel eyes that looked calmly from between the 

 shaggy eyelashes. 



With body glistening with moisture and 

 reflecting the growing light in undulating 

 patches, the tusker turned and disappeared 

 over the pass into the mist below, and as he 

 went the sun rose over the distant horizon and 

 changed the calm sea of snow into ripples of 



