68 The Life of an Elephant 



exploded, burning torches were flung, and the 

 shouts of men and the booming of drums 

 became unbearable. The elephants pressed 

 forward in a wild attempt at escape, and forced 

 themselves through the narrow gateway. 



There was here no space to receive this 

 torrent of frightened animals, and so it was 

 that the herd-bull was left 

 outside, and attacked the 

 palisade with the fury born 

 of fear. It gave way to 



jLl.'i4i ^ M^- ' he rushed through, 



of those who had, like him, been delayed at 

 the fatal gateway ; and at the same moment 

 the ropes holding up the huge portcullis were 

 cut, and the way to freedom, for the rest of 

 the herd, was barred. Then it was that scores 

 of men arrived to hurriedly strengthen the 

 stockade, and to prevent any systematic 

 attempt at its destruction ; firing with blank 

 cartridges at any elephant which crossed the 

 boundary ditch with the object of tearing down 



