The sun had now gone down, and the fast expiring twilight was deepening into night and barely sufficed to disclose the beauties of the surrounding scenery, so we adjourned to the camp-fire, where all were busily engaged in preparing the evening meal; and the consequent bustle which ensued presented a strange contrast to the dreamy stillness that a few minutes before pervaded this romantic sylvan dell. After a smoke and a chat round the fire, we set the watch and turned in, well satisfied with our day's sport. CHAPTER XX. THE GREAT ANNAMULLAY FOREST-continued. A ROGUE ELEPHANT. Naga's party join us.-News of a rogue elephant.-Chineah despatched for the bison's spoils.-B's luck.-The start. -We strike a fresh trail.-Fall in with the tusker.- Our proceedings B's excellent shot.-The ivories.-A discussion on "rogues."-The cutting-out of the tusks.-Return to the low country.-Arrival of our guests.-Dinner.—B—'s adventure of a "griffin."-The lion and tiger compared.-My first lion. We again ascend the ghaut.-Good cheer.-Consultation. Elephant-spoors.-The trail followed up.-K's rashness.—An escape.-A small tusker falls.-Return to the hut.-B's bag.-A storm.-Return to cantonment. SHORTLY after we had retired to rest, I was awakened by an extraordinary noise and bustle outside our hut; and, on calling for Chineah, found that Naga and Veerapah, with a party of Carders, had come in, having missed their way until attracted by our fire. Naga reported that the Carders had told him of a bull-elephant, with large tusks, that The excean in a barely sufficed 1 deve esse te suading scenery, so avere all were busily Cera I T meal; and the TOP JE TOUT SRH semed a strange TALES DD the a few minutes megva del After a cecie in we set the watch and tried in wel vinir dey's sport. CHAPTER XX. THE GREAT ANNAMULLAY FOREST-continued. A ROGUE ELEPHANT. Naga's party join us.-News of a rogue elephant.-Chineah despatched for the bison's spoils.—B—'s luck.—The start. -We strike a fresh trail.-Fall in with the tusker. - Our proceedings-B's excellent shot.-The ivories.-A discussion on "rogues."-The cutting-out of the tusks.-Return to the low country.—Arrival of our guests.-Dinner.—B—'s adventure of a "griffin."-The lion and tiger compared.-My first lion. We again ascend the ghaut.-Good cheer.-Consultation. Elephant-spoors.-The trail followed up.-K's rashness. An escape.-A small tusker falls.-Return to the hut.-B's bag.-A storm.-Return to cantonment. SHORTLY after we had retired to rest, I was awakened by an extraordinary noise and bustle outside our hut; and, on calling for Chineah, found that Naga and Veerapah, with a party of Carders, had come in, having missed their way until attracted by our fire. Naga reported that the Carders had told him of a bull-elephant, with large tusks, that had been seen several times lately in a wooded ravine, about two coss (four miles) distant; and which he and Veerapah, under the guidance of the party then in camp, had been to look for him, and whilst they were following up his trail, and talking as they went along, he made his appearance and charged right at them, but that they had made their escape by climbing into trees, where they remained until he moved away. The Carders also knew of the whereabouts of a herd at no very great distance among the hills; and they reported that bison were to be found at any time in the teak-forests. Having made up my mind to go after the solitary tusker, whom I suspected to be a "rogue" that had been driven out of a herd by his companions, from his vicious attack on the people, I turned over and slept until called by Chineah in the morning. A venison-steak broiled on the embers of our fire, a cup of coffee, and a couple of chapaties (girdle-cakes made of rice-flour), formed our breakfast; during which meal I informed B of Naga's news, as he had not heard it, being asleep at the time. I then despatched Chineah, Veerapah, and a party of Carders and Mulchers, for the bisons' skins and horns, which they were to take down to our hut in the low country, and there remain until our return. As there was only one elephant, according to our usual custom in such cases, we tossed up for the |