s a twinkle in his eye, as though he suspected what
was coming.

"Suddenly a single shot was heard from up the valley. As it came
echoing towards us, it was mingled with the spattering fire, shouting
and yelling of the beaters, who began to advance. Chand Moorut became
rigid and motionless, like a statue. He was evidently thinking!
Another instant, and the rogue's shrill trumpet-note of defiance rang
high above the din. Trembling and restive the ordinary khedda elephants
showed every symptom of alarm; but the fighters stood still, with the
exception of Chand, who, becoming inflated with the spirit of war, made
a sudden dash up the valley, intent on accepting the challenge! Fifty
yards were passed before his mahowt, with voice, limb, and prod managed
to reduce the well-trained warrior to obedience. Solemnly, and with
stately gait, he returned to his position, his great heart swelling, no
doubt, with anticipation.

"Scarcely had he taken up his position when the bushes higher up were
seen to move, and the huge black form of the rogue appeared upon the
scene. Unlike the lively young elephant that had escaped us in the
morning, this old rogue marched sedately and leisurely down the
hill-side, apparently as much unconcerned about the uproar of shooting
and shouting in his rear as if it had been but the buzzing of a few
mosquitoes. I confess that doubts as to the issue of the combat arose
in my mind when I first saw him, for he appeared to be nearly, if not
quite, as big as Chand Moorut himself, and of course I knew that the
hard and well-trained muscles of a wild elephant were sure to be more
powerful than those of a tame one. I stupidly forgot, at the moment,
that indomitable pluck counts for much in a trial of mere brute force.

"Ignorant of what was in store for him, with head erect, and an air of
quiet contempt for all animate creation, the rogue walked into the dry
bed of the river, and began to descend. Expectation was now on tiptoe,
when to our disgust he turned sharp to the right, and all but walked in
amongst the spectators on the ledge above, some of whom received him
with a volley of rifle balls. As none of these touched a vital spot,
they might as well have been rhubarb pills! They turned him aside,
however, and, breaking through the left flank of the khedda, he took
refuge in the thickest jungle he could find. The whole khedda followed
in hot pursuit, crashing through overgrowth of canes, creepers