412 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



fidence upon her judgment. She learned to splice ropes 

 and to assist in furling sails. The brutal mate assaulted 

 her one day, and heat her severely without provocation. 

 She made no resistance, but in a piteous manner held out 

 her hands to break the force of the blows. After this she 

 seemed to take no interest in anything, refused all food, 

 and on the fifth day died. " 



14. The Elephant as Nukse. — A military officer in 

 the East India service says : " I have seen the wife of a 

 mahout give a baby in charge to an elephant while she went 

 on some business, and have been highly amused in observ- 

 ing the manoeuvres of the unwieldy nurse. The child began 

 crawling about, and would soon get under the feet of the 

 elephant or entangled in the branches of the tree on which 

 he was feeding. The elephant, in the most tender manner, 

 would lift it out of the way, or remove the obstacle to his 

 progress. If the child reached the limits of the elephant's 

 chain, he would pull it back as gently as possible. When 

 the child fell asleep, he broke off a branch and kept away 

 the flies, although he was himself greatly annoyed by the 

 same pests." 



15. A Coukageous Hen. — In an inn-yard a favorite 

 hen hatched out a brood of chickens, but lost all but one. 

 One day, as she was scratching about, a large rat seized her 

 only remaining offspring. The old lien heard the cry of 

 distress, and with the greatest fury flew at the rat, seizing 

 him. by the neck. The rat, however, contrived to get free, 

 and in turn attacked the hen. The fight lasted twelve 

 minutes, when, with a violent blow, she laid the rat lifeless 

 at her feet. She then turned to the frightened chicken, 

 folded it under her wings, and clucked soothingly and tri- 

 umphantly. 



