Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/38

HUNTING AND CATCHING WILD ELEPHANT logs to be found. This stockade is immensely strong, for it is made to stand the rush of terror-stricken elephants. The stockade is covered throughout its entire length with its branches so that the elephants do not notice that it is a trap. The corral is V shaped. At the point of V there is a gate which leads to a large enclosure. This enclosure has a number of smaller ones separated from the main corral by heavy drop gates. So much for the corral.

Now elephants are trapped in a curious manner. An old tame bull elephant, trained for the work, is turned loose in the jungle, and it promptly goes off to find a herd of its wild brothers. What yarn it tells them is not known, but it is not long before the foolish creatures follow the old bull. As



the herd marches along it gathers in stragglers from all points. This takes a good deal of time, and the odd bull is often away several days before it appears on its way back to the corral. The trappers do not worry for they know that the old scoundrel understands its business. Sometimes the bull elephant will go off in a most roundabout way, as though it had to hunt its victims out of holes and corners.

Men scouts are on watch and soon report that the elephant herd has been sighted. Once the head of the herd enters the wide part of the V the trappers know that they have the game all but safe. Men are concealed the entire length of the stockade, on the lookout for accidents or any attempt to turn back. If by any chance the heard wavers, it is scared on from