along the
rough stones of the hillside at a deliberate pace, but yet keeping up
with the footmen below.

As the ape was a sacred animal in Egypt, Mysa was gladdened by their
sight, and considered it a good omen for the success of their journey.
The men who escorted them told them that if undisturbed the apes never
attack travelers, but if molested they would at once attack in a body
with such fury that even four or five travelers together would have
but little chance of escape with their lives. During the first week's
journey they saw no other animals; although at night they heard the
cries of hyenas, who often came close up to the encampment, and once
or twice a deep roar which their guide told them was that of a lion.

On the seventh day, however, soon after they had started upon their
march, the sound of breaking branches was heard among some trees a
short distance up the hillside, and immediately afterward the heads of
four or five great beasts could be seen above the mimosa bushes which
extended from the wood to the bottom of the hill. The bearers gave a
cry of terror, and throwing down their loads took to their heels. The
four men of the escort stood irresolute. Although none of Jethro's
party had ever before seen an elephant, they knew from pictures and
carvings, and from the great statues in the Island of Elephanta, what
these great creatures were.

"Will they attack us?" Jethro asked the men.

"They do not often do so," one of them replied; "although at times
they come down and waste the fields round villages, and will sometimes
slay any they come across. But it is best to get out of their way."

Jethro pointed out a few of the more valuable packages, and taking
these up they entered the bushes on the other slope of the hill and
made their way among them as far as they could. This was, however, but
a short distance, for they were full of sharp thorns and offered
terrible obstacles to passage. All of the party received severe
scratches, and their garments suffered much, in making their way but
twenty yards into the bush.

"That will do," Jethro said. "We shall be torn to pieces if we go
further; and we are as much concealed from sight here as we should be
another hundred yards further. I will see what they are doing."

Standing up and looking cautiously through the screen of feathery
leaves, Jethro saw that the elephants were standing immovable. Their
great ears were erected and their trunks outstretche