So deceitful was the moonlight, being interrupted by the dark shadows of the jungle, that I was within ten paces of the nearest elephant before I distinguished her.

I counted three--one large and two others about six feet high.

Being satisfied with my information, and having ascertained that no others were in the jungle, I returned to my companions; they were all ready, and we crept forward.

We were within ten paces of the large elephant, when a branch of hooked thorn caught W.by the clothes; the noise that he made in extricating himself immediately attracted the attention of the elephant, and she turned quickly round, receiving at the same moment an ineffectual shot from W.; B.at the same time fired without effect at one of the small elephants.
The mother, hearing a roar from the small elephant that B.had wounded, immediately rushed up to it, and they stood side by side in the water about fifteen yards from the bank.

The large elephant now cocked her ears and turned her head from side to side with great quickness to discover an enemy.