Chap. III.] 



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 1 00 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 



I 4 



