II 
THE ELEPHANT 
65 
a low growl, followed by that peculiar noise emitted 
by elephants when excited, resembling blows upon a 
tambourine or kettle-drum. This is_ a sound that 
invariably is heard whenever an elephant detects 
the fresh scent of a tiger; and Nielmonne, instead 
of standing quiet, became doubly excited, as she 
evidently understood that the dreaded game was on 
foot, and advancing before the line. 
As I was posted at the sharp angle of the corner, 
I presently observed several elephants emerge upon 
my left and right, as the line advanced with won¬ 
derful regularity, and so close were the animals to¬ 
gether that it was most unlikely any tiger could 
have broken back. 
My servant Michael was behind me in the how- 
dah. He was a quiet man, who thoroughly under¬ 
stood his work, and seldom spoke without being first 
addressed. On this occasion he broke through the 
rule. “Nothing in this beat, sahib,” he exclaimed. 
. . . “ Hold your tongue, Michael, till the cover’s 
beaten out. Haven’t I often told you that you can’t 
tell what’s in the jungle until the last corner is gone 
through ?” • 
Nearly all the elephants were now out, and only 
about half a dozen remained in the jungle, all still 
advancing in correct line, and perhaps a dozen 
yards remaining of dense reeds and creepers forming 
the acute angle at the extremity. They still came 
on. Two or three of the mahouts shouted, “ The 
tiger’s behind, we must go back and take a longer 
beat.” Nothing remained now except six or seven 
VOL. I F 
