re still in front. This surprised him, as it was
altogether contrary to the custom of wild elephants. For usually on a march
the cows with calves lead the way. This is logical and reasonable; because
if an unencumbered tusker headed the line and set the pace, he would go too
fast and too far for the little legs of the babies in the rear. They would
fall behind; and, as their mothers would stay with them, the herd would
soon be broken up.

But as Badshah reached the head of the file and, taking the lead, set a
very slow pace, Dermot quickly understood why the old elephants were
allowed to remain in front. For all of them were exceedingly feeble, and
some seemed at death's door from age and disease. He would not have been
surprised at any of them falling down at any moment and expiring on the
spot.

Then he remembered the curious but well-known fact that no man, white or
coloured, has ever yet found the body of a wild elephant that has died in
the jungle from natural causes. Though few corners of Indian or Ceylon
forests remain unexplored, no carcases or skeletons of these animals have
ever been discovered. And yet, although in a wild state they reach the age
of a hundred and fifty years, elephants must die at last.

Dermot was meditating on this curious fact of natural history when Badshah
came out on the high bank of an empty river-bed and cautiously climbed down
it. Ahead of them rose the long line of mountains clear and distinct in the
rays of the setting sun. As he reached the far bank Dermot turned round to
look back. Behind them stretched the procession of elephants in single
file, each one stepping into the huge footprints of those in front of it.
When Badshah plunged into the jungle again the tail of the procession had
not yet come out on the white sand of the river-bed.

And when the sun went down they were still plodding on towards the hills.

CHAPTER V

THE DEATH-PLACE

An hour or two after night had fallen on the jungle Badshah stopped
suddenly and sank down on his knees. Dermot took this as an invitation to
dismount, and slid to the ground. When Badshah stopped, the long-stretching
line behind him halted, too, and the elephants broke their formation and
wandered about feeding. Soon the forest resounded with the noise of
creepers being torn down, branches broken off, and small trees uprooted so
that the hungry animals could reach the leafy crowns. Dermot realised that
in the darkness he was in da