Sport on the Nilgiris and in Wynaad . ore. I sent my trackers out to try todiscover his whereabouts ; and on the second morningafter my arrival he was marked down about threemiles away. On reconnoitring the ground, I foundthe elephant had retired into a small and denselywooded hollow about five acres in extent. Throughthis ran a stream, and the continual moisture hadgiven birth to a luxuriant growth of underwood andgrass at least seven feet in height. When we followedthe track into this matted cover, we were completelyswallowed up, and we agreed that a further advancewould be as useless as it
Sport on the Nilgiris and in Wynaad . ore. I sent my trackers out to try todiscover his whereabouts ; and on the second morningafter my arrival he was marked down about threemiles away. On reconnoitring the ground, I foundthe elephant had retired into a small and denselywooded hollow about five acres in extent. Throughthis ran a stream, and the continual moisture hadgiven birth to a luxuriant growth of underwood andgrass at least seven feet in height. When we followedthe track into this matted cover, we were completelyswallowed up, and we agreed that a further advancewould be as useless as it would be dangerous. Hadthe elephant charged I should have been powerless, asI could not see a step in front, while even if he werenot inclined for mischief, we should be bound to givehim warning of our approach, as it was impossible tomake our way through the tangled swamp withoutnoise. I held a conference with my trackers, and wedecided that the only plan which offered a chance ofsuccess was for me to work round to the bottom of the. THE ELEPHANT 97 hollow along the hillside above; as soon as I hadreached my post, the trackers were to shout and throwstones into the cover, when probably the elephantwould make down the swamp, giving me a shot. Thewind was blowing across the swamp, and, working toleeward, I had no difficulty in getting to the bottomundetected. Just at this point the ground rose againin a little knoll, and by standing on the summit of this,screened by a large tree, I could see right across thepatch of thick cover in which the elephant wasensconced, and all round it. The trackers weresquatting at the head of the swamp, and I waved myhand as a signal that I was ready. The shouting andstone-throwing began, but the effect was the veryopposite of what we intended. I heard a short screamin the cover just below me, and the elephant chargedstraight at the men. I could mark his progress as theunderwood was mown down and swayed by his mightybulk. Roaring to the trackers tha
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