Early Experiences 35 



from the herd, and bring it to the village to be 

 trained for use and subsequent sale. 



Leaving one man on each elephant, the other 

 two commenced searching the soft soil for fresh 

 tracks, and after a few minutes started away at 

 a quick walk, followed at a distance by their 

 companions. For miles they proceeded in a 

 series of twists and turns, passing as they went 

 evidence of the grazing of the herd in broken 

 branches, uprooted grasses, and overturned 

 bamboos, and it was not until they were within 

 a hundred yards of the elephants that they 

 halted to reconnoitre the ground and to as- 

 certain if any of the animals were of size 

 suitable for their purpose. A decision seemed 

 soon to be arrived at, and, the trackers 

 mounting, the tame elephants were 

 urs^ed in the direction of a half- 

 grown animal which stood on the " "^ ' * ' ' 



outskirts of the tree forest. Little 



suspecting the attempt to be made 



on his liberty, the victim moved 



away as the intruders approached him ; he was 



nervous but not apprehensive ; but on being 



