Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/43



swimmer and can go with its head out of water, or it can swim completely submerged with nothing but the tip of its trunk sticking out to breath through. It is said that full grown elephants never suffer while swimming from the attacks of the crocodiles, for the big fellows can put up a good fight if compelled to. The Indian Crocodile however is noted too for its great strength and ferocity and it sometimes is foolish enough to quarrel with the the "tuskers" and generally with discredit to itself.

On one occasion a small herd of elephants were splashing about near the banks of a large river in Burmah and among them was one baby elephant not much bigger than a cow. The old mother kept a close watch to see that no harm came to her charge. But while the bathing was going on, a huge crocodile slipped up unnoticed, through the muddy water, and seized the little elephant by a hind leg. Its terrified squeals sent its big companions into the greatest confusion and excitement. Without waiting an instant however, the mother and the old bull leader charged. Meanwhile the baby was being dragged away in spite of its struggles. The mother seized the crocodile around the middle with her trunk and literally lifted it out of water and at the same time tore it away from its prey. Then the bull took a hand in the struggle and together the pair killed the huge reptile. The baby had one foot lacerated, while the father and mother were both badly torn and marked for life. A crocodile does not easily give up its life.