124 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WA YS 
CHAP. 
turned, and a race commences along a course terribly 
in favour of the elephant, where deep ruts, thick 
tangled bush, and the branches of opposing trees 
obstruct both horse and rider. Everything now 
depends upon the sure-footedness of the horse and 
the cool dexterity of the rider. For the first 
lOO yards an elephant will follow at 20 miles 
an hour, which keeps the horse flying at top speed 
before it. The rider, even in this moment of great 
danger, looks behind him, and adapts his horse’s 
pace so narrowly to that of his pursuer that the 
elephant’s attention is wholly absorbed by the hope 
of overtaking the unhappy victim. 
In the meantime, two hunters follow the 
elephant at full gallop ; one seizes his companion’s 
reins and secures the horse, while the rider springs 
to the ground with the same agility as a trained 
circus-rider, and with one dexterous blow of his 
flashing sword he divides the back sinew of the 
elephant’s hind leg about 16 inches above the 
heel. The sword cuts to the bone. The elephant 
that was thundering forward at a headlong speed 
suddenly halts ; the foot dislocates when the great 
weight of the animal presses upon it deprived of the 
supporting sinew. That one cut of the sharp blade 
disables an animal which appeared invincible. 
As the elephant moves both legs upon the same 
side simultaneously, the disabling of one leg entirely 
cripples all progress, and the creature becomes 
absolutely helpless. The hunter, having delivered 
his fatal stroke, springs nimbly upon one side to watch 
