trying to think what was the best thing for him to do, for he was the
leader of the herd, and they would all do as he did, just as a flock
of sheep will follow the old ram, even on the dangerous railroad track
sometimes.

"Come!" trumpeted Tusker through his trunk, "we will go between the
two fences to the salt springs."

"Is the salt good, Mother?" asked Umboo, for he had only had a little
in his life, and as I told you, hardly remembered it."

"Very good, indeed," said Mrs. Stumptail. "You shall soon see and
taste for yourself."

So along through the jungle, half way between the two lines of fence,
went the elephants, little and big. They had not gone very far before,
all of a sudden, Tusker stopped and raised his trunk in the air.

"Be careful!" he cried. "I smell danger! I smell the man smell! Oh,
elephants, I fear something is going to happen."

And something did happen.

From behind the herd of elephants, and from both sides of them, came a
terrible noise. It was as though a hundred thunderbolts had been shot
off at once, and a terrible clapping sound was heard, as if the wings
of great birds were flapping.

These noises were made by hunters up in the trees on each side of, and
behind, the elephants. The hunters fired their guns, making the noise