Of course this surprise was fully shared by Caspar.

Ossaroo participated in it, but only to a very slight degree.
The shikaree was still inclined towards indulging in his superstitious belief that the creature they had seen was not of the earth, but some apparition of Brahma or Vishnu.
Without attempting to combat this absurd fancy, his companions continued to search for an explanation of the strange circumstance of their not having sooner encountered the elephant.
"After all," suggested Caspar, "there is nothing so strange about it.
There are many large tracts of the valley we have not explored; for instance, that wide stretch of black forest that lies at its upper end.
Neither of us has ever been through there since the first two days, when we followed the deer all round, and went afterwards to examine the cliff.

For myself, I never strayed that way while hunting--because I always found the game in the open grounds near the lake.

Now the elephant may have his lair in that piece of forest, and only come out at night.

As for tracks, no doubt there are plenty, but I never thought of looking for them.