The Elephant then said: "Friends, chiefs of the most powerful tribes of
the forest, let it be to-night, as ye say. Let each go and muster his
forces, and let the attack be in the following manner. Half-way betwixt
dawn and midnight I will lead my troop from the Uganda side. The
Rhinoceros will lead his from the Katonga side. The Buffalo will range
his tribe along that side facing Unyoro. Behind my troop the Hyena and
his families shall follow to finish those who may be but bruised by our
heavy hoofs. Let Leopard place his fellows and kin in rear of the
Rhinoceros troop. Lion and his great tribe are needed in rear of
Buffalo's forces, for they are apt in their fury to overlook the crafty
bipeds. Our object is to make a complete job of it. The sooner we part
now, the fitter each will be for the perfect consummation of his
long-deferred revenge."

It was well past midnight when the four-footed forces were gathered
around the doomed village, and, at the shrill trumpet-note of the King
Elephant, the several chiefs led their respective troops at the charge.
The elephants tore on resistlessly, trampling down the doomed cages of
the human folk flat and level with the ground. The rhinoceros and his
host pushed on with noses low down, and tossed the human nests as we
would kick an empty egg-basket; the buffaloes bellowed in unison, and,
closing their eyes, threw themselves upon the huts, and gored everything
within reach of their horns. Then the fierce carnivora, all excitement
at the prospect of the bloody feast, roared, snarled, and laughed as
they tore the mangled victims piecemeal. Ah, poor village, and poor
people! In a short time the dreaming souls dreamed no more, but were
gone past recall into the regions where dreams are unknown--all
excepting one clever boy named Kibatti, and his parents, who survived
the calamity. These happened to live in a tiny hut close hidden by a
grove of bananas on the edge of the forest, and Kibatti about midnight
had been disturbed in his sleep by a pressure on his stomach which woke
him, and denied him further sleep. He therefore sat sorrowing over the
red embers of his fire, when he heard the hollow tramp of large animals,
and pricking his ears, he heard trampling in another direction;
whereupon his suspicions that something unusual was about to happen grew
on him, so that he woke his parents, and bade them listen to the
rumbling sounds that could be heard by such experienced hu