210 THE ELEPHANT. 
was too sensible of his own inferiority openly 
to resent it : but great squabbling an^ 
abuse ensued between the keepers. A* , 
length, the weaker animal, watching hi® 
opportunity, when the other was standin» 
with his side to the well, stepped back' 
ward a few paces in a very quiet manncij 
and then rushing forward with all his migh*^^’ 
drove his head against the side of the othd^ 
and fairly tumbled him into the well. For th^ 
sake of the supply of water, it became impei'^' 
tively necessary to extricate the unwieldy 
brute ; . but, as the surface of the water 
nearly twenty feet below the common level, 
was evident that this object could not be 3^” 
complished by main force, at least witho'’’' 
injuring him. There were many feet of wa^^"^ 
beneath the elephant, who, floating with 
on the surface, and pleased with his cool 
treat, showed little disposition to exert 
means he might possess in himself for his 
