36 The Life of an Elephant 



followed and disturbed time after time he 

 became alarmed, and commenced to run 

 through the forest to shake 

 off his pursuers. They 

 followed with the ease of 

 animals who were in hard 

 training through years of 

 labour and scanty food ; in- 

 crease the speed as he would they were still 

 pressing on him ; if he threatened to charge 

 they evaded him to right and left, only to close 

 up again behind him ; and so, separated from 

 the herd, with terror in his heart and trembling 

 with exhaustion and thirst, he still plodded 

 along in front, with the hunt inexorably follow- 

 ing his footsteps, permitting no halt to rest 

 or drink, but 

 persistently 

 keeping him 

 on the move 

 through long 

 hours. Atlast 

 despair took 

 possession of 



