On the mahout urging him he roared and protested in every way, so much so that I was somewhat alarmed and suggested to the mahout that the elephant knew better than he the danger of proceeding.

Finally, however, the elephant decided to try the ground, and carefully and slowly he made his way across, his great feet at every step depressing the surface, which perceptibly waved like thin ice all around him.

I was prepared and ready to jump clear at the first sign of danger, for had we broken through we should have probably all disappeared in the bog.
Hatthi was as much relieved as myself on reaching terra firma.

My guide told me that this land had no bottom, that under the packed surface there was twenty feet of soft, black, loamy mud.

This set me thinking.