Part 13 (1/2)
”There is danger, O Elephants!” cried Tusker. ”The man-smell is all around us, and the terrible noises are behind, and on both sides of us. There is only one place that is quiet, and that is straight ahead.
We must go that way! Forward!”
And straight ahead rushed the elephants, toward the place where there was no noise. As they went on Mr. Stumptail looked to either side and saw where the two lines of fence came together into a place like a big ring, and the ring also had a fence around it.
”Look, Tusker!” cried Umboo's father. ”Is it all right to go there where the fence is?”
”It is the only place to go to get away from the hunters,” said Tusker. ”They are behind us and on both sides. Only ahead of us is there none. We must go that way!”
And this is just what the hunters wanted. They made no noise in front of the elephants on purpose so they would rush that way. For, in that direction, was the strongly fenced-in stockade, or trap, with long barriers on each side leading to it.
To the elephants, who were frightened by the shooting and clapping noises behind, and on both sides of them, the silence in front of them seemed just what they wanted. Toward it they ran, not knowing that the trap was waiting for them.
Into it they rushed, the noise behind them sounding louder and louder now, with more guns shooting and more clappers clapping. Into the quiet of the stockade rushed Tusker, Mr. and Mrs. Stumptail, Umboo, Keedah and all the others.
And then, when they were safely in the trap, a great big door of logs, as strong as the fence of trees of which the stockade was built, fell with a bang behind them, shutting the elephants in. Then the shooting and clapping stopped.
For a moment it was quiet in the jungle, the only sound being the wind blowing in the trees, or the rubbing of the rough-skinned elephants'
bodies, one against the other, making a queer, shuffling noise. The big animals crowded together in the middle of the stockade trap, and waited for what would happen next.
”Is this the salt spring, Mother?” asked Umboo.
”No,” she sadly answered. ”It is not. This is dreadful!”
”What has happened?” asked Umboo. ”And why do Tusker and the other big elephants look so scared?”
”Because we are caught in a trap,” answered the boy elephant's mother.
”I have heard tell of these places, but I was never in one before.”
”Can't we get out?” Umboo wanted to know.
”Tusker will try, and so will your father,” said Mrs. Stumptail. ”All the strong elephants will try to break out. Perhaps it will be all right yet. Listen, Tusker is going to speak.”
Tusker, the big bull, raised his trunk and said:
”O, Elephants! I am sorry, but I seem to have led you into a trap. I did not know it was here. I tried to lead you away from the man-smell and away from the danger, but I have led you into worse. Now I will try to get you out. I see what has happened. The hunters made their fences in the jungle so we could only come this way--this way into the trap. But we shall break out!
”Come over here by me, Mr. Stumptail, and you too, Mr. One Tusk, and you also, b.u.mper Head. Come, we will rush at the fence of this trap and batter it down. In that way we can get out. We shall fool these hunters yet. Come, we will batter down the fence and once more we will be in our jungle!”
”Yes, we will knock down the fence!” cried the other big elephants through their trunks. And they made such a rumble, and struck the ground so heavily with their great feet, that the earth trembled.
CHAPTER XI
UMBOO GOES TO SCHOOL
”What is going to happen now?” asked Umboo the big elephant boy of his mother, as the great creatures stood huddled together in the middle of the stockade, or trap. ”What is going to happen now?”
”Wait and see,” advised Mrs. Stumptail, and she was much worried.