200 
MAMMALIA. 
[Chap. VI. 
rear of the terrified elephants ; thousands of voices urged 
them forward ; we heard the jungle crashing as they 
came on, and at last they advanced through an opening 
amongst the trees, bearing down all before them like a 
charge of locomotives. They were led by a huge female, 
nearly nine feet high, after whom one half of the herd 
dashed precipitately through the narrow entrance, but 
the rest turning suddenly towards the left, succeeded in 
forcing the cordon of guards and making good their 
escape to the forest. 
No sooner had the others passed the gate, than the 
two tame elephants stepped forward from either side, 
and before the herd could return from the further end 
of the enclosure, the bars were drawn, the entrance closed, 
and the men in charge glided outside the stockade. 
The elephants which had previously been made prisoners 
within exhibited intense excitement as the fresh din 
arose around them ; they started to their feet, and 
stretched their trunks in the direction whence they 
winded the scent of the herd in its headlong flight ; and 
as the latter rushed past, they renewed their struggles 
to get free and follow. It is not possible to imagine 
anything more exciting than the spectacle which the 
wild ones presented careering round the corral, uttering 
piercing screams, their heads erect and trunks aloft, the 
very emblems of rage and perplexity, of power and help- 
lessness. 
Along with those which entered at the second drive 
was one that evidently belonged to another herd, and 
had been separated from them in the melee when the 
latter effected their escape, and, as usual, his new com- 
panions in misfortune drove him off indignantly as often 
as he attempted to approach them. 
