lly avoided stating that his mind was taken up at the time with a
very different kind of dear!

It was afternoon when the assembled party, including drivers, sat down
to luncheon on the hill-side, and began to allay the cravings of
appetite, and at the same time to recount or discuss in more or less
energetic tones, the varied experiences of the morning. Gradually the
victuals were consumed, and the experiences pretty well thrashed out,
including those of poor Mabberly, who had failed to get even a chance of
a shot.

"An' sure it's no wonder at all," was Pat Quin's remark; "for the noise
was almost as bad as that night when you an' me, sor, was out after the
elephants in that great hunt in the North-western provinces of Indy."

"Oh, _do_ tell us about that," cried Junkie and his brothers, turning
eagerly to Jackman.

"So I will, my boys; but not now. It will take too long. Some other
time, in the house, perhaps, when a bad day comes."

"No, now, _now_!" cried Junkie.

Seeing that most of those present had lighted their pipes, and that the
laird seemed to wish it, Jackman washed down his lunch with a glass of
sparkling water, cleared his throat, and began.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

JACKMAN'S WONDERFUL ELEPHANT STORY.

"Once upon a time," said Jackman, glancing at Junkie and Robin Tips, who
sat before him open-mouthed and open-eyed, as if ready to swallow
anything...

"Yes," murmured Junkie, nodding, "that's the right way to begin."

"But you must not interrupt, Junkie."

"No, I won't do it again; but first, tell me, is it true?"

"Yes, my boy; it is absolutely true in all its main points," replied
Jackman.

"Well, as I said, once upon a time, not very long ago, I was sent up to
the North-west provinces of India, to a place near the base of the
Himalaya mountain-range. The country was swarming with elephants at
that time. You see, previous to that, the elephants had been hunted and
killed to such an extent that the Government had been obliged to pass an
Elephant Preservation Act for their protection, and the Act worked so
well that the elephants multiplied very fast. They roamed at will
through the forests, and frequently, leaving these, made raids upon the
cultivated lands, to the great damage of property and danger of human
life from the `rogues,' as old, solitary elephants which have been
driven from the herds, are called. These `rogues' are extremely
ill-natured and dangerous, so it was found neces