Chap. VI.] 
THE ELEPHANT. 
199 
the representation made by some of the " sportsmen " 
who harass them, that they are treacherous, savage, and 
revengeful ; when tormented by the guns of their per- 
secutors, they, no doubt, display their powers and 
sagacity in efforts to retaliate or escape ; but here their 
every movement was indicative of innocence and timidity. 
After a struggle, in which they evinced no disposition to 
violence or revenge, they submitted with the calmness 
of despair. Their attitudes were pitiable, their grief 
was most touching, and their low moaning went to the 
heart. We could not have borne to witness their dis- 
tress had their capture been effected by the needless 
infliction of pain, or had they been destined to ill-treat- 
ment afterwards. 
It was now about two hours after noon, and the first 
elephants that had entered the corral having been dis- 
posed of, preparations were made to reopen the gate, and 
drive in the other two herds, over which the watchers 
were still keeping guard. The area of the enclosure was 
cleared ; and silence was again imposed on the crowds 
who surrounded the corral. The bars that secured the 
entrance were withdrawn, and every precaution repeated 
as before ; but as the space inside was now somewhat 
trodden down, especially near the entrance, by the fre- 
quent charges of the last herd, and as it was to be appre- 
hended that the others might be earlier alarmed and 
retrace their steps, before the barricades could be re- 
placed, two tame ones were stationed inside to protect 
the men to whom that duty was assigned. 
All preliminaries being at length completed, the 
signal was given ; the beaters on the side most distant 
from the corral closed in with tom-toms and discordant 
noises ; a hedge-fire of musketry was kept up in the 
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