me upon a scene of extraordinary destruction.
The native village had been built in shelter of the bamboos, only a
little place, a cluster of fifteen or twenty huts. But every house lay
in ruins as if the place had been knocked about the villagers' ears
with a huge flail. Near at hand a man lay dead, his body horribly
crushed and battered. No sign of life was to be observed about the
place.

But while the travellers stared in wonder on the havoc which had been
made, they were suddenly attacked by the author of it, and knew that
their own lives were in deadly peril. There was a terrific crashing
among the bamboos, and then a huge, dark object was seen to be
bursting a way through the tall stems. All but Jack knew at once what
it meant; he was enlightened in an instant.

"A 'rogue' elephant! A 'rogue' elephant!" cried Saya Chone, and the
driver urged the pad-elephant forward with voice and spear.

Then Jack understood. His father had told him many times how that a
big, savage male will often leave a herd of wild elephants, take up a
solitary life in the jungle, and become a "rogue." There is no more
terrible beast to be met with. His enormous size and strength, his
terrible ferocity, make him the king of the jungle. He attacks all he
meets, and tramples every foe under his huge feet.

This "rogue" had evidently been attracted to the clearing by the
paddy-fields, where the elephant loves to feed. Then, irritated
probably by some attempt of the natives to drive him away, he had
attacked their village and swept it out of existence. Now he was
charging savagely upon the newcomers.

He came at them across the open with terrific speed. Jack had not the
faintest idea that so ponderous a beast could move at such a pace, and
he stared with fascinated eyes at the extraordinary sight. The "rogue"
was an immense tusker, a big, wild, savage-looking brute, who charged
with up-lifted trunk, and now trumpeted with so tremendous a note that
the jungle and the hill-sides rang with the hoarse thunder. His course
was laid straight for the men in front, two of the attendants on
ponies. The Malay, the remaining attendant, and the pack-pony were
behind the pad-elephant.

The ponies, obedient to their riders, had at first bounded forward,
but when that frightful trumpeting broke out, and they saw the huge
tusker thundering upon them, they were seized with such fear that they
stopped and stood still, trembling in every limb. Before their ri