recross the stream; in doing which they show an
ingenuity little short of marvellous. The party, which consists of from
six to ten, select a water-lily leaf, or some other floating substance, on
which they place the berries on a heap in the middle; then, by their
united force, bring it to the water's edge, and after launching it, embark
and place themselves round the heap, with their heads joined over it, and
their backs to the water. In this manner they drift down the stream, until
they reach the opposite shore, when they unload their cargo, which they
store away for the proverbial rainy day.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE XXVIII.

A Calculating Crow.

A carrion crow, perceiving a brood of fourteen chickens under the care of
the parent-hen, on a lawn, picked up one; but on a young lady opening the
window and giving an alarm, the robber dropped his prey. In the course of
the day, however, the plunderer returned, accompanied by thirteen other
crows, when every one seized his bird, and carried off the whole brood at
once.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE XXIX.

Porus Saved by his Elephant.

King Porus, in a battle with Alexander the Great, being severely wounded,
fell from the back of his elephant. The Macedonian soldiers, supposing him
dead, pushed forward, in order to despoil him of his rich clothing and
accoutrements; but the faithful elephant, standing over the body of its
master, boldly repelled every one who dared to approach, and while the
enemy stood at bay, took the bleeding Porus up with his trunk, and placed
him again on his back. The troops of Porus came by this time to his
relief, and the king was saved; but the elephant died of the wounds which
it had received in the heroic defence of its master.

[Illustration]

ANECDOTE XXX.

Drawing Water.

Some years ago, an ass was employed at Carisbrook Castle, in the Isle of
Wight, in drawing water by a large wheel from a very deep well, supposed
to have been sunk by the Romans. When the keeper wanted water, he would
say to the ass, "Tom, my boy, I want water; get into the wheel, my good
lad;" which Thomas immediately performed with an alacrity and sagacity
that would have done credit to a nobler animal; and no doubt he knew the
precise number of times necessary for the wheel to revolve upon its axis,
to complete his labour, because every time he brought the bucket to the
surface of the well, he constantly stopped and turned round his hones