hat had caused the destruction of the house.
Though the author of that mischief was nowhere to be seen, they knew it
was the elephant. There was no alternative but to accept that
explanation; and it was not the act itself that was awing them, but the
contemplation of the human-like, or rather demon-like, intelligence that
had guided the animal thither, and instructed it to this act of
retribution, perhaps only preliminary to a still greater one.

Though the work of devastation could not have been completed many
minutes before their arrival, the elephant appeared to have gone away
from the ground. At east, it was not to be seen anywhere near the spot;
and it is needless to say that it was carefully looked for. Dreading
its dangerous proximity, they had kept under cover of the bushes while
contemplating the ruin from a distance; and it was not until after a
considerable interval had elapsed that they ventured forward over the
open space to ascertain the full extent of the damage.

This they at length did, and found that it was _total_ destruction. So
far as the hut was concerned, not a vestige of construction remained--
walls and roof had been alike levelled with the ground. But what was a
greater source of chagrin to the now homeless plant-hunters, was that
their little store of ammunition--the gunpowder, which during all the
period of their imprisonment they had been carefully hoarding--was
spilled among the rubbish, and of course irrecoverable. It had been
deposited in a large gourd-shell prepared for the purpose; and this,
among other similar chattels, the enraged quadruped had crushed under
its feet. Their cured provisions had also been turned out from their
place of deposit, and trampled into the dust of the earth. But this,
though also a chagrin, was one of less bitterness. Other provisions
might be obtained--not now so easily, since the powder was destroyed--
but the latter they could not replace.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

UP A TREE AGAIN!

They might have remained longer on the ground lamenting this irreparable
loss, but that they were still apprehensive of the return of the
elephant. Whither had it gone? That was the question which one was
addressing to the other, while the eyes of all kept turning in different
directions, and with glances that betrayed their uneasiness.

The rogue could not have been off the ground more than a very few
minutes: the grass that he had trampled down was still wet with