f the hills and flows to the south
underground, here rises to the surface and gives the whole forest its
name--Terai, that is, "wet."

Slimy pools lurked in the undergrowth. In one the ugly snout of a small
crocodile protruded from the muddy, noisome water, and the cold, unwinking
eyes stared at elephant and man as they passed. The rank abundant foliage
overhung the track and brushed or broke against Badshah's sides, as he
shouldered his way through it.

Suddenly, without warning, Badshah came out on a stretch of forest clear of
undergrowth between the great tree-trunks, and to his amazement Dermot saw
that it was filled with wild elephants. Everywhere, as far as the eye could
range between the trees, they were massed, not in tens or scores, but in
hundreds. On every side were vistas of multitudes of great heads with
gleaming white tusks and restless-moving trunks, of huge bodies supported
on ponderous legs. And with an unwonted fear clutching at his heart Dermot
realised that all their eyes were turned in his direction.

Did they see him? Were they aware that Badshah carried a man? Dermot knew
that beasts do not quickly realise a man's presence on the neck or back of
a tame elephant. He had seen in a _kheddah_, when the _mahouts_ and noosers
had gone on their trained elephants in among the host of terrified or angry
captured wild ones, that the latter seemed not to observe the humans.

So he hoped now that if he succeeded in turning his animal round and
getting him away quickly, his presence would remain unnoticed. Grasping his
rifle ready to fire if necessary, he tried with foot and hand to swing
Badshah about. But his elephant absolutely ignored his efforts and for the
first time in their acquaintance disobeyed him. Slowing down to a stately
and deliberate pace the _Gunesh_ advanced to meet the others.

Then, to Dermot's amazement, from the vast herd that now encompassed them
on every side came the low purring that in an elephant denotes pleasure.
Almost inaudible from one throat, it sounded from these many hundreds like
the rumble of distant thunder. And in answer to it there came from
Badshah's trunk a low sound, indicative of his pleasure. Then it dawned on
Dermot that it was to meet this vast gathering of his kind that the animal
had broken loose from captivity.

And the multitude of huge beasts was waiting for him. All the swaying
trunks were lifted together and pointed towards him to sense him, with a
unan