is?" cried Jack. A new trail merged into that which
they followed, and by a footprint they knew it for that of one of the
giant buffaloes. "We've got to see if he's waiting or not."

The Indian watched them stolidly, gun ready, while they examined the
broken bamboos and twigs, as well as the hoof-prints.

"He came in ahead o' the rogue," declared Charlie positively. "Look,
here's a deep buffalo-print that's dry. There's one 'bout as deep made
by the rogue, but there's water at the bottom. Then these trees over
here are dry, but there's still a little sap on the elephant's trail."

"Then they came by last night, sure enough," said Jack. "The buffalo
started along feeling pretty good. Stopped to nibble here. The rogue
struck into his trail and swished right along careless. Stopped to rub
on that tree--there's buffalo hair--whew! Say, that rogue is big!"

"Twelve feet up," said Amir Ali with a delighted display of teeth, as he
reached in vain toward the scarred bark.

Somewhat sobered by this, the boys stared at each other until Charlie
resumed the march. No sign had come from behind of Schoverling and the
rest. Fifty feet farther on the bamboos thinned out, and in a little
glade they came upon fresher tracks.

"Hello!" cried Jack. "Buffalo stopped to feed over here but didn't stay
long. Look at the tracks, Chuck. He turned around and stood for a
minute, till his hoofs sunk down. Most likely that's where he heard the
elephant coming along."

"Well, he didn't wait." Charlie was bending over the spoor as he walked
along, reading the sign eagerly. "He pushed right ahead after a
minute--say, do you s'pose that was the rumpus the General heard last
night? He said it sounded like a buffalo and an elephant!"

Jack shook his head, and now they followed the trail out onto higher
ground. The bamboos thinned behind them, and before them were scattered
woods, heavy, flat-topped thorn trees, junipers, and others the boys did
not know, while the country was well broken up by little rises. But that
was not what caused the boys to leap forward.

In the open space ahead lay a shapeless mass that had once been a
buffalo. It was easy to tell what had happened here. The elephant,
possibly coming upon the great bull at the edge of the bamboos, had
paid no attention to him; possibly had brushed him aside. At all events,
the bull had drawn blood, for they saw spots on the edge of the elephant
spoor. The huge rogue had plainly turned and