the Kraal; the two tame ones leading the way,
and pointing out the advantages of that
particular path to their jungle friends. Those
sounds seemed to approach us at irregular
intervals. Sometimes it appeared as though
the animals were not to be moved on any
account, and the shouting died away ; again
they drew rapidly near ; then paused ; then
forward, until we fancied we could
distinguish the fall of the elephants' huge feet
amongst the thick underwood. At last there
was no mistake about it ; they were close
upon us. Our anxiety and curiosity became
intense. The tearing and trampling amongst
the jungle was deafening. Giant bamboos
and branches of trees appeared to be snapped
asunder by the on-coming herd, like so many
walking-sticks — in a way, in short, which
made me tremble for the strength of the
Kraal, and of our own elevated platform.

But there was little time for reflection of
any kind. A shot or two was fired in the
rear of the advancing herd, followed by a
trampling of the leading elephant. The moon
at that moment began to peep over the
distant range of low hills; and, by its faint light,
I could distinguish the low jungle bending,
and giving way on every side, and amongst it
sundry huge black forms rushing about in
savage disorder, like mountain masses
upheaved by some convulsion of nature. The
two decoys entered the enclosure at a brisk but
steady trot, and stationed themselves under the
clump of trees, without any notice being taken of
them; indeed, one of them nodded knowingly
to the Corale near him, as much as to say,
"It's all right, old fellow! " On came the
wild elephants at a thundering pace, tearing
and bending, and smashing everything before
them; trumpeting and roaring at full pitch.
In another moment they were within the
boundaries of our fortress.

Never shall I forget the wild, strange beauty
of that uproarious moment. The moon was
now shining sufficiently on the Kraal to light
up the more open parts of it; away under the
deep shade on one side, could be seen a dense,
moving mass of living creatures; huge, mis-
shapen, and infuriated, trembling with rage
and fatigue. Lighted chules were gleaming
thickly, like fire-flies, amidst the neighbouring
jungle. Felled trees and rope barred up the
narrow way, forming one monster gate;
whilst busy groups of villagers, white wands in
hand, moved to and fro, and watched the furious
herd. More lights were brought to the front,
and a blazing fire was kindled outside the
entrance, which, whilst it served to light up
the whole of the Kraal, deterred the savage
strangers from attempting anything in that
direction.

It was soon evident that the prisoners were
not going to take matters very quietly. Two
of the stoutest of their number slowly
advanced and examined the walls, to see
where an opening might most easily be
forced. And now we were not less astonished
than delighted at the use made of those tiny
white wands, which had before served only
to raise our contempt. Wherever the two
elephant spies approached the jungle-walls of
their prison, they were met by one or two
villagers, who gently waved before them little
snow-white switches ; and, lo ! as if by some
spell of potent forest magic, the beasts turned
back, shrinking from contact with the little
wands. Point after point was thus tried, but
all in vain ; the snowy magic sticks were thick
within the jungle, and silently beat back the
advancing foe.

While the two scouts were thus engaged on
their exploring expedition, the tame elephants
approached the remainder of the herd, and
walked slowly round them, shaking their
shaggy ears, and waving high in air their curling
trunks, as though they would say, " Move
at your peril." One of the captives, a somewhat
juvenile and unsophisticated elephant,
ventured to move from the side of its maternal
parent, to take a survey of our stand, when
tame elephant Number One went up to the
offender, and sent him back with an enormous
flea in his ear; tame elephant Number Two
bestowing at the same moment a smart tap
on the skull.

Busier work was at hand. The scouts,
evidently disgusted with the result of their
operations upon the outworks, appeared to be
preparing for a sortie, and treated with the
most reckless levity the admonitory taps of
the elephant policemen; which, however,
seemed to be far less unpleasant to them
than a tickle on the snout from one of the
pigmy white wands. It was plain that they
intended to carry their object by a coup de
trunk; but a score of rifles peered forth. The
ladies shut their eyes, and stopped their ears:
an elderly gentleman, at my elbow, asked, in a
tremulous whisper, "what the guns were
for? " The inquiry was replied to by a loud
trumpeting from one of the pair of rebels,
—a harsh screaming roar, like the hollow
sound of a strained railway whistle, very
much out of repair. We had scarcely time
to look at the poor brute creating this
disturbance, when we heard the sharp crack of
a dozen rifles around us — so sharp, indeed, that
our eyes blinked again. Down tumbled one
of the monsters, with thick torrents of hot,
savage blood, pouring from many a wound
about his head and neck. His companion
was not so easily disposed of, though badly
wounded. Lifting his enormous trunk in
the air, and bellowing forth a scream of
defiance, he made a rush at the jungle-wall.
The two elephantine policemen, who had
been narrowly observing his proceedings,
then cut in between him and the
ramparts, and succeeded in turning him from his
purpose; but only to cause him to renew his
fierce attack upon another part of the defences.
He rushed, at full speed, upon the part where
our stand was erected, screaming and tearing
up the earth, and lashing his great trunk