94 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
the dead body. I accordingly gave orders that one 
of the elephants should drag it about a mile down 
wind away from the camp. Lord Mayo was brought 
to the spot, and the sweeper, being of a low caste, 
attached a very thick rope to the hind legs of the 
ox; the other end being made fast to the elephant’s 
pad in such a manner as to form traces. The 
elephant did not exhibit the slightest interest in the 
proceeding, and everything was completed, the body 
of the ox being about 6 or 7 yards behind. 
No sooner did Lord Mayo move forward in 
obedience to the mahout’s command, and feel the 
tug of the weight attached, than he started off in a 
panic at a tremendous pace, dragging the body 
through the lanes between the piles of sleepers, 
upsetting them, and sending them flying in all 
directions, as the dead ox caught against the 
corners ; and, helter-skelter, he made for the nearest 
jungle about 300 yards distant. Fortunately some 
wood-cutters were there, who yelled and screamed 
to turn him back ; but although this had the effect 
of driving him from the forest, he now started 
over the plain down hill, dragging the heavy ox 
behind as though it had been a rabbit, and going 
at such a pace that none of the natives could over¬ 
take him, although by this time at least twenty men 
were in full pursuit. 
The scene was intensely ridiculous, and the whole 
village turned out to enjoy the fun of a runaway 
elephant with a dead ox bounding over the in¬ 
equalities of the ground; no doubt Lord Mayo 
