CHAPTER XXIII
THE HERD
If anything could have added to my wretchedness it would have been thisfailure to find the kind Hermit.
What was to become of me? accustomed as I had been for so long toliving among men--petted and cherished by all?
Oh! why did no wise suggestion now come to me? Why did I not think ofreturning to the Palace of Golconda, where very likely my absence hadnot yet been discovered?
Alas! jealousy and murderous hatred still governed me; it was necessarythat I should suffer and be punished; and the wise counsel which mighthave spared me so many trials never entered my head.
I wandered aimlessly through glades and thickets, penetratingdesperately to the wildest parts of the forest. And now a new distresswas added to my misery. If I had, like men, the faculty of blushing,I would blush to say that hunger was now torturing me. I ought not,perhaps, at such a time to have given a thought to so commonplace anecessity as food; but, I repeat, our race supports less than any otherthe lack of nourishment; and, during my long life, I have seen so manymen yield to the mere fear of hunger, that I trust I shall not becriticised too severely for my weakness.
I was, then, very sorrowful--and very hungry! I gathered here andthere a few half-dead leaves, or a bunch of thin grass--but what couldthey do to sustain me? I was beginning to despair, when I heard in thedistance a sound which I recognized as the trumpeting of elephants.This encouraged me. I said to myself:
"These Elephants whom I hear are, no doubt, Wild Elephants; still, Iwill try to touch their hearts, and, perhaps, seeing my distress, theywill admit me to their Herd."
This thought inspired me with a little confidence, and I made my waytowards that part of the forest whence the sounds proceeded. Theycontinued to reach me at intervals, and, guided in this way, I reachedafter a while an opening in the woods, in which twenty large Elephantswere resting, reclining on the ground.
In the centre of the clearing was a great heap of fruits and freshvegetables. (The Elephants are accustomed to separate at night, and gothrough the fields and near-by plantations, to forage for food, andthey return bringing with them what they have been unable to eat, andmake of it a common stock of provisions.)
I saw them quietly enjoying their repast; from time to time, one wouldextend his trunk and select a fruit or vegetable from the heap, andtranquilly munch it, as if quite sure that nothing would come near todisturb them, or to interfere with their meal.
Several were sleeping; and yet, in spite of the calm and peacefulappearance of these Elephants, one felt they were savage and readyto defend themselves fiercely against any intrusion. I trembled as Iapproached them!
I was thinking how I could best attract their attention, when one ofthem saw me, and with a hoarse cry, gave the alarm to his companions.Instantly those who had been eating stopped, and those who were asleepawoke. They all looked at me, and in those looks I could see no signof sympathy for him who had disturbed them. I was on the point oftaking flight--but hunger held me fast, and I said humbly, in elephantlanguage, something like this:
"My Brothers, I am a very unfortunate and friendless creature, who hasno wish to offend you. I have been for a long time wandering about,without food or shelter, and if you do not assist me I shall soon dieof hunger. Have pity upon me! Give me a little of your provisions, andI will in return be glad to render you any service in my power!"
These words had no effect. They said to themselves:
"This is a _White_ Elephant--and no doubt sick; at any rate he is notlike us. Why should we allow him to come among us?"
"HE IS WHITE, AND THAT IS ALL THE MORE REASON FORSENDING HIM OFF"]
One Elephant, who was taller and more powerful than the others, and whoseemed to be a leader among them, said roughly:
"We should never take in strangers. We should beware of all new-comers,and far from treating them with kindness, we should chase them away.Even if this Elephant were dark like us, he has no business here; hewas not born in this clearing. He is _White_, and that is a stillstronger reason for sending him off!"
At this all the Elephants cried out with one voice:
"Yes! Yes!--let him go!"
Then they all turned to me and cried:
"_BEGONE! BEGONE_!..."
I tried to speak again, but their cries became more fierce. Many roseup and threatened me with their tusks. Alone as I was against twentyElephants--what could I do?... Then, too, my life among kindly andaffectionate masters, and my occupation of watching over and servingthe sweetest and gentlest of Princesses, had rendered me averse tofighting.... I did not like quarrels. Their furious screams shockedand horrified me, and I left the clearing where for a moment I hadhoped to find refuge.
I saw now that I had nothing to hope from my fellow-elephants.Everywhere it would be the same. I should be treated as an intruder. Iremembered how, even in my infancy, when I lived in the forest of Siam,I had been looked on with dislike by my companions of the Herd, becauseof my white colour--the very thing that had caused me to be welcomedby men. How then would it be with strangers? even if less savage thanthose I had just left?
It would always be the same.... No herd would ever consent to receiveme.