Chap, in.] THE ELEPHANT. 
119 
margin of open ground. It was one of those beautiful 
bright, clear, moonlight nights, when objects could be 
seen almost as distinctly as by day, and I determined to 
avail myself of the opportunity to observe the move- ' 
ments of the herd, which had already manifested some 
uneasiness at our presence. The locality was very 
favourable for my purpose, and an enormous tree pro- 
jecting over the tank afforded me a secure lodgement in 
its branches. Having ordered the fires of my camp to 
be extinguished at an early hour, and all my followers to 
retire to rest, I took up my post of observation on the 
overhanging bough ; but I had to remain for upwards 
of two hours before anything was to be seen or heard of 
the elephants, although I knew they were within 500 
yards of me. At length, about the distance of 300 
yards from the water, an unusually large elephant 
issued from the dense cover, and advanced cautiously 
across the open ground to within 100 yards of the tank, 
where he stood perfectly motionless. So quiet had the 
elephants become (although they had been roaring and 
breaking the jungle throughout the day and evening), 
that not a movement was now to be heard. The huge 
vidette remained in his position, still as a rock, for a 
few minutes, and then made three successive stealthy 
advances of several yards (halting for some minutes 
between each, with ears bent forward to catch the 
slightest sound), and in this way he moved slowly up to 
the water's edge. Still he did not venture to quench 
his thirst, for though his fore-feet were partially in the 
tank and his vast body was reflected clear in the water, 
he remained for some minutes listening in perfect 
stillness. Not a motion could be perceived in himself 
or his shadow. He returned cautiously and slowly to 
