64 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
sent the elephants round to commence the drive 
about two hundred yards distant, entering from the 
cultivated side and driving towards me, as I con¬ 
cluded the tiger in such massive jungle would not 
be far from the dead body. At the same time, I 
sent two scouting elephants to occupy positions 
outside the jungle on the high grass side, within 
sight of myself; I being posted on my elephant at 
the corner, so that I commanded two views—the 
end, and the grass side. 
My signal, a loud whistle, having been given, the 
line of elephants advanced towards my position. The 
crashing of so many huge beasts through the dense 
crisp herbage sounded in the distance like a strong 
wind, varied now and then by the tearing crunch as 
some opposing branches were torn down to clear the 
way. 
I was mounted upon a female elephant, a good 
creature named Nielmonne, who was reputed to be 
staunch, but as the line of beaters approached nearer, 
and the varied sounds increased in intensity, she be¬ 
came very nervous and restless, starting should a 
small deer dart out of the jungle, and evidently 
expecting momentarily the appearance of the enemy. 
There are very few elephants that will remain un¬ 
moved when awaiting the advance of a line of 
beaters, whether they may be of their own species or 
human beings. On this occasion the rushing sound 
of the yielding jungle, which was so thick as to test 
the elephants’ powers in clearing a passage through 
it, was presently varied by a sharp trumpet, then by 
