AN ELEPHANT HUNT. 
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passed in battalions. In the first division I counted 
twenty-five. This was succeeded by a second and a 
third, the whole amounting at least to seventy ele- 
phants. You may imagine what a fine sight it was 
to behold so many of those stupendous creatures in a 
state of nature, varying in height from two to fourteen 
feet. At length a huge male stalked majestically from 
the jungle, bringing up the rear and occasionally turn- 
ing round upon its pursuers with a most menacing as- 
pect ,- but its contemplated aggression was repelled by 
the line of fires. Nothing, however, could induce it 
to advance beyond the vista. There it made a sudden 
pause, and sounding an alarm with that shrill note 
peculiar to the elephant, and which is called trum- 
peting, the whole herd instantly faced about, set up 
a terrible roar, and vigorously charged the line ; the 
larger leading the charge in single file, and the 
smaller following with all speed, the jungle crashing 
before them, and their determination appearing so 
fierce that I trembled for the men opposed to this tre- 
mendous array of strength and desperation. 
The beaters redoubled the din of their tomtoms, 
horns, and other clamorous instruments, while the 
musketeers tried to check the career of the elephants by 
smart volleys; still nothing could stop them until they 
were brought up by the line of fires. This was repeated 
three times, but the desperate creatures were as often 
driven back, until they grew weary of such ineffectual 
efforts, and remained still, as if determined calmly to 
await the issue. At length it was announced that 
four large and three small elephants had entered the 
snare ; but as it would have been impossible to close 
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