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. 



