Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/39

 behind the drums and horns and fireworks. Finally the old bull leads the herd through the narrow part of the V into the enclosure. When all are safely inside, the gate is quickly let down, shutting them in.

The old elephant goes up to the top of the enclosure and passes out through one of the drop gates, leaving behind the herd it has betrayed. For a while the elephants do not notice anything amiss, but their suspicions are soon aroused, when they see men bobbing about on the stockade from which the tree branches are removed. Suddenly they realize that they are trapped, and a wild scene ensues. The elephants make frantic efforts to get out, while the men with yells, tom-toms and fire-works, drive them back. The very earth trembles with the struggle, and woe betide the stockade in there is a weak spot in it, but usually it has been built by experienced men and no accidents occur. Not infrequently an unlucky native loses his balance and falls into the yard where he is sure to be trampled to death unless he is as nimble as a cat and scrambles out.

After a while the elephants begin to calm down. Soon all the green leaves are eaten up, and they become very hungry. This is part of the scheme, for they are deliberately starved to break their spirits, and render them more easy to handle. One by one ropes are passed around the great beasts and they are coaxed or dragged into the small enclosure and chained up. For days the poor animals struggle until it seems that they could not possibly live through the strain. No sooner are they humbled, and cease fighting when they are fed, well treated, and petted. The elephant has a remarkably large brain for an animal, and is very intelligent. It does not take it long take it long to realize that there is nothing to be gained by fighting, and it learns to behave itself and begins scheming like a boy.

Each new elephant is placed between two tame ones and taught to work, and sometimes the lesson is not given which such gentleness, for the old elephants while making the captive do what they want, will butt the beast with their tusks with fearful violence. There is a Hindoo say-