ity, he climbs thither. He likes a
moderately cool atmosphere--where he may be less persecuted by flies and
other troublesome insects: since, notwithstanding his great strength and
the thickness of his hide, so small a creature as a fly can give him the
greatest annoyance. Like the tiger, he is by no means exclusively a
tropical animal; but can live, and thrive too, in a cool, elevated
region, or in a high latitude of the temperate zone."

Karl again expressed surprise that none of them had before that time
observed any traces of this gigantic quadruped, that must have been
their neighbour ever since the commencement of their involuntary
residence in the valley. Of course this surprise was fully shared by
Caspar. Ossaroo participated in it, but only to a very slight degree.
The shikaree was still inclined towards indulging in his superstitious
belief that the creature they had seen was not of the earth, but some
apparition of Brahma or Vishnu.

Without attempting to combat this absurd fancy, his companions continued
to search for an explanation of the strange circumstance of their not
having sooner encountered the elephant.

"After all," suggested Caspar, "there is nothing so strange about it.
There are many large tracts of the valley we have not explored; for
instance, that wide stretch of black forest that lies at its upper end.
Neither of us has ever been through there since the first two days, when
we followed the deer all round, and went afterwards to examine the
cliff. For myself, I never strayed that way while hunting--because I
always found the game in the open grounds near the lake. Now the
elephant may have his lair in that piece of forest, and only come out at
night. As for tracks, no doubt there are plenty, but I never thought of
looking for them. You know, brother, we have been too busy in making
our tree-bridge, and afterwards exploring the cavern, to think of much
else."

Karl admitted the truth of these observations; for it was as Caspar had
alleged. During the whole time of their residence in the valley, the
minds of all three, filled with anxiety about the future, had been
keenly bent upon devising some means of escape; and on this account they
had given very little attention to anything that did not in some way
contribute to that end. Even Caspar, in his hunting excursions, had not
gone over one-half of the valley; nor had these excursions been very
numerous. In three or four days he ha