98 USEFULLY CLEVER ELEPHANTS.

in no way put about, and kept floating at his ease, enjoying
the cool water, and showing no wish to come out of it. At
length a number of bundles of sticks used in the siege were
brought, and these being lowered into the well, the elephant
was induced by his driver to place them under his feet. In
this way a pile was raised high enough to enable him to
stand upon it. But, being unwilling to leave the water, he
after a time would allow no more bundles to be lowered ;
and his driver had to caress him, and promise him plenty
of liquor as a reward, to induce him-to raise himself out of
the water. The elephant at last allowed more bundles to be
thrown in; and at length, after some masonry was removed
from the edge of the well, he was able to step out—the
whole work having occupied fourteen hours.

You will perhaps smile at the conduct of the two huge
creatures. It was very like that of human beings. A big
boy plays a smaller one a trick—snatches something from
him. The other pays him back. An uproar is raised, and
often serious trouble follows. These two elephants behaved
just like two ill-tempered boys; and through them a whole
army was doomed to suffer for many hours the pangs of
thirst. Remember the golden rule, “Do unto others as you
would that they should do unto you.”

 

USEFULLY CLEVER ELEPHANTS.

In the island of Ceylon there are large herds of wild ele-
phants. Many have been caught and tamed, and made use-
ful in helping to build bridges, houses, and churches. Trav-