west, by the passages which were to be the entrance and outlet, and over which a hanging bridge was thrown. The Court and foreign guests could thus view the sport from this esplanade as from a balcony, as balustrades were chiselled in the stone all round the edifice. Along the walls inside were stakes of iron-wood, placed about fifteen feet from the wall, and at such a distance from each other that a man could just pass between them sideways. On the north and south sides were staircases cut into the walls. The panorama from the platform was one of the most beautiful it is possible to conceive. To the south lay the ruins of Ajuthia, the Beautiful,—a few grayish blocks alone marking the site of this city, which bravely withstood several sieges, but which was overthrown at last. Other forests stretched out to the west, while on the north, the river lost itself at the foot of Mount Phrà-Bhät in the distance. At the gate, my guide pointed out four stakes which were only three feet high, but which were sunk in the ground to the depth of fifteen feet; these were to fix the ropes used for tying the elephants; further on was a large pond for the animals to bathe in, and towards the south were two large salas or sheds intended for the captives. After walking about an hour over the ground, which was full of ruins,-stones of every size and color,-we arrived at KhrunKhau, before which we found the three steamers lying at anchor. The guests were just sitting down to dinner, and I needed no pressing to accept the invitation which was given me to join them. It was a curious dinner party, with many strange faces and odd costumes. But I must confess that beside the rich dress of the Siamese princes and grand mandarins, the uniforms of the Americans and Europeans looked frightfully plain and out of place. We had scarcely sat down when a mandarin came and whispered in the ear of Chow-Phya-Bannhu-Wongse, minister of Foreign Affairs. From the expression which passed over the good-humored face of the minister, I could see that something terrible had happened. He was about rising from table when, catching sight of me, he beckoned, and directed me in Siamese to accompany Lhuang-Vicet, the mandarin, and to use every effort to avert the catastrophe which threatened, and at the same time inform the Regent. I started at once, VOL. VIII-15 and, overtaking Lhuang-Vicet, I was informed by him that the men who were along with the Portuguese Consul had just arrived with the news that their Phô (master) had insisted on taking a bath, despite their warning, and that he had not appeared again on the surface. The With difficulty we at last recovered the body. It was black from the head to the waist, and from what I could judge, he must have dived head foremost, as Europeans generally do, and, striking a shoal or body of electric eels, been at once asphyxiated, for as soon as a body comes into contact with one of the noue-triks, it immediately becomes as heavy as lead, and the slightest movement is impossible. corpse must have floated down the river in a perpendicular position, with the head. downward; the eels had twined themselves around it in large numbers. I sent back the body to Bangkok, and putting LhuangVicet on board his steamer, I set out to acquaint the Regent with the result of my mission; after having done so, I returned, wet and tired, to my hut, where after reposing a few hours, I felt perfectly recovered. It was just four o'clock, and I had only time to jump on a horse, which was standing, saddled, before my door, and join the Regent's escort, which had gone to meet the elephants. We reached a little rising ground from which we would have a view as they defiled before us. The Regent bade me observe a black cloud which was advancing with great rapidity above the forest. The cloud was raised by the dust, which these animals throw over their heads and shoulders during the warm season, when they can find no water or young plants. Soon a strange noise reached our ears, and we could distinctly hear how the animals tore up and broke the trees in their way; the earth trembled, while a thousand hunting horns resounded to inform us of their approach. The largest elephant of the royal stables. opened the march. This gigantic animal was no less than twenty-seven feet high. On both sides were files of domesticated male elephants, easily recognizable from their magnificent tusks and the drivers astride their necks. There were no less than three hundred of these domesticated animals. Twenty-five, marching abreast, closed the rear, and drove on the laggards. It was a curious spectacle to see these three hundred tame animals marching so silently and gravely, and keeping time, as they conducted the four hundred wild ones to the trap. The latter set up a horrible din when they perceived us; nothing could give an idea of the four hundred roars with which they greeted us. They had now reached the river, and their joy at finding the water was expressed by various grunts and snorts. Only their heads and the ends of their trunks were visible as they took their cooling bath. The drivers had never left their posts for a moment, so that the lines were preserved unbroken. We now left our positions, and crossed over to the other side of the river, and ascended to the platform of the trap, where we found the guests waiting to see the capture. His Majesty Wà-Nhà the Second King, had already arrived with his court. Fine mats had been placed on the top of the structure, and on these the Siamese sat down in Oriental fashion, according to their rank. The Europeans were provided with rich stools of Chinese and Thibetian stuffs, while a large tent of green silk, with flowers worked on it, protected us from the rays of the sun. rage, attacked an enormous-sized stake in the middle of the structure, on which was a wooden pagoda, and shook it with such force that the pagoda and the little Buddha of plaster, which was inside, soon tumbled down-to their great satisfaction. The whole night they never ceased their hideous noise, which could be heard for miles around. The Regent had returned to his camp and the guests to their steamers. The next day three of the finest elephants were to be captured, to replace three domesticated ones which had died in the course of the year. After a few hours' sleep we returned to the trap about ten o'clock in.the morning, and found in place of the green and tufty alleys of the preceding day, nothing but a range of black trees, and even five or six of these had been all bent under the tremendous pressure of these enormous creatures. We had not been long on the terrace when the guests arrived, and the capture of the animals was begun. One of the elephants was three feet taller than any of his companions; he was one of those who showed such rancor against the little pagoda, the preceding evening, and the Regent had designated him as the first one to be caught. Two of the tame elephants now advanced with two armed drivers on each, the front driver having a strong bent hook in his hand, the other man in a crouching posture and holding a pole about eight yards long; this pole was flattened at the end, and around it was rolled a strong rope forty yards long, made of thongs of rhinoceros and elephant hide. One animal entered by the eastern, the other by the western gate. The intelligence of these animals was something ex The eastern gate, formed of two moveable trees, now opened, and the decoy, -the large elephant,-entered, followed by his wild companions, while the other tame elephants remained between the bank of the river and the alley, so as to prevent any from escaping or falling behind. The branches and shoots were broken off and rooted up and eaten, and it was wonderful to see the care these animals took to clean them from the clay and dirt which adhered to them. If, after striking them together, there still remained any dust, they would place the branch under their feet and clean it with the greatest pre-traordinary. A word, a sign was enough cision. The gourmands of the herd completely destroyed those splendid lanes which I described above. The keepers did not disturb their enjoyment, so that it was nearly three hours before all the herd had entered the structure. I had gone down in the meantime into the space between the iron-wood stakes and the interior of the wall. I was astonished at the height of these gigantic animals, which, as soon as they had entered, began their horrible din again, turning round and round the immense pit, with their trunks held aloft in the air-in tragic deprecation, I fancied, of the treachery of their domesticated brothers. Five or six, in a fit of for them. They had now arrived behind the animal they wanted to catch, and making him walk, the men took advantage of the moment when he lifted his hind feet, to pass a running knot round his hams, by means of their spear. Having done this, the coil of the rope was thrown to the Siamese in the alleys and made fast to one of the trees. When this was accomplished, the western gate was opened once more, and all the elephants went out of the trap to bathe in the pond, and to feed on whatever young plants they could find around it. A circle of their treacherous companions at every ten paces remained as silent and immovable as veritable sphinxes, and hindered them from going outside the allotted boundary. The wild herd was, for the most part, composed of females, a bull elephant having generally from fifteen to twenty-a fact which will explain why it was impossible for four hundred of these animals to revolt against three hundred bull elephants chosen from the royal Siamese stables, which always contain five thousand of these animals ready to take the field. Besides, the hunt never takes place during the pairing season, as it would be impossible for the elephant hunters to succeed. When the pit was entirely empty and the captive saw himself cut off from his companions and his little ones, he set up a terrible cry, and made a rush for the door through which the last elephant had just disappeared. The rope tightened, his legs were pulled different ways, and he fell on his fore knees heavily to the ground; three times did he try the same experiment with the same result. He bellowed and ploughed up the ground with his tusks, but no force can break these thongs which are made of elephant skins. When he realized his position he turned all his rage against the stakes, but had to rest at the end of a quarter of an hour. After an hour and a half the ropes were loosened from the stakes, and the eastern gate opened. He then made a rush for it, thinking he was free, but only dragged his chains with him, for beyond the door were two elephants on each side, like two policemen, each having an enormous collar of rattans, while a third stood right in front, and prevented any further movement on the captive's part. While he tried to overcome these new obstacles, the keepers put a similar collar round his neck, and another on his back, and then tied him to his two companions; the third one cleared the way, and, taking a position behind, shoved on the poor captive, while the other two dragged him towards the southern shed, or såla, prepared for the occasion. It was exactly like three It was exactly like three policemen conducting a troublesome prisoner to the station. In the shed he was tied to a strong stake, his fore feet fettered, and then given into the charge of his keeper. The whole proceeding occupied about three hours. Two other elephants were taken in the same manner, but one of them had a desperate fight with his antagonists before he was captured. Every time one of the tame elephants would approach, he would rush at him with his tusks; he was received in the same savage fashion, and they came together with a dull thud. Four domesticated elephants were worsted in the fight, and had to be taken off the field; with the fifth, the struggling animal lost one of his tusks, and, being thus unfit for use, was allowed to regain his liberty. He was not long in plunging into the water, and, having washed off the blood with which he was covered, he rejoined his companions. The third elephant did not give so much trouble, and at five o'clock we went to the sheds where they were to be tamed by hunger. The first animal was twenty-three feet high, the second, twenty, the third, nineteen, and the one we lost twentytwo. In these countries the elephants are of the greatest service, and it would be difficult for man to have any of the luxuries of life without their intelligent aid. The foreign guests started the same night for Bangkok, extremely well pleased with what they had seen, and the Regent returned to his camp. I was very desirous of having a young elephant, and the mandarin of the elephants was kind enough to place four men at my disposal. We set out and lay for the herd along the road it had to follow to the forests. I was so for tunate as to capture a young bull elephan about eight months old, which I named Joseph, and brought with me to Bangkok, where the King was kind enough to give me a nurse for it, as it could not do without one for a couple of years. Many an evening I would amuse myself by taking out the foster-mother with little Joseph, and watch his gambols as he would set out on a gallop and then return between his mother's legs. At other times when he would see me stretched on the mat before my door, he would run to me and dirty my face with the end of his trunk, and if I would not rise up and run and play with him, he would endeavor to roll over me, and I was then obliged to rise, or I would have been crushed by the young colossus. Joseph is at present in a beautiful sála of the royal palace of Bangkok, as one enters the court through the fourth western gate, which is called the Gate of the Lhuangs-Phâtoût-Lhuang. It is remarkable what precision characterized this hunt. The animals had been gathered from several hundred leagues distant; three months had been occupied in forming the herd and driving it on. The 26th of April, at four o'clock, was the time appointed, and on that day, at exactly ten minutes past four, the elephants passed before us. MONSIEUR LE BARON. ONE afternoon in the early spring a woman was sitting alone on one of the seats bordering a winding walk in the Champs Elysées. The air was moist and warm, and the brilliant sunlight poured a flood of golden beauty over her shabby garments, and worn, tired face. She was evidently waiting for some one, for she watched the passers-by with eager interest, her hands clasping and unclasping themselves restlessly. Two young men strolling by looked curiously at her, but she was not young enough to interest them much, and they passed on with a shrug and half pitying smile. Their careless laughter floated back, and hurt her. How the brilliant equipages flashed and glittered! Bright eyes were sparkling, jewels flashing in the sun. The spring wind laughed and frolicked with the leaves, but she saw none of this, and as the shadows grew longer she sighed a little. Suddenly her eyes brightened, as a tall figure came down the walk-a soldierly man with gray whiskers, and keen blue eyes. He was also looking for some one, for he walked slowly, glancing from right to left. The woman watched him anxiously. and, as he seemed about to address a pretty girl, who was leading two children by the hand, she placed herself in his way. "Monsieur le Baron!" "Celeste!" They stood facing each other, the woman with her eyes cast down, the man with a strange look of doubt and surprised recognition on his face. He spoke with a Ger man accent. "I did not know you. I thought—” and his eyes followed the good-looking bonne. Celeste looked up surprised. It had been ten, fifteen years since they had met, and yet she knew him at once. The silence had been awkward. A carriage passed, from which looked a lady resplendent in satin and lace. Celeste became painfully conscious of her old dress, the faded ribbon on her bonnet, the rent in her poor little shoe. She drew back her foot so as to hide it. Monsieur le Baron pulled his whiskers nervously. Had he nothing more to say, this man of whom she had dreamed by day and night since they parted? Was it for this that she refused Armand, the notary, when he asked her five years ago to be his wife? What good was it that since she had got his brief letter she had turned her best dress, and even afforded herself new gloves? Despair made her bold. "So you did not know me, Monsieur?" "I? How could I?" he said, with a sort of exasperation in his tone. "When I left you, you were young and pretty." He quite forgets his own gray hairs! With a low cry she shrank back as if he had struck her. "You had better sit down, Celeste," he said, more kindly. She sat down, for she could stand no longer. She had gone without breakfast that she might buy the little bunch of flowers to put in her dress. It made her look bright, she thought, and hid an unsightly darn as well. The tears were washing off the rouge with which she had tried to hide the hollows sorrow and want had made in the once dimpled cheeks. She sobbed weakly to herself. The Baron watched her with a slow impatience kindling in his eyes. "Are you very poor, Celeste ?" 'Yes, Monsieur." "I had no idea of this,” he said, with an aggrieved air. "Your uncle, the curé, told me before I left that you were provided for. Your father had sisters-why did they not do something?" "They are dead, Monsieur." "If I had married you then," he went on, disregarding the interruption, "I could not have supported you. My father hated your nation, and would not have given me a thaler. He is dead now, and I came back to look for you." He found it hard to go on. How could he tell her that now that he has found her he does not know what to do with her? Celeste bowed her head humbly. She is very sorry that her relatives have been so unreasonable in the way of dying. Sorry too that her poverty troubles Monsieur;' it has become so old a story with her that she scarcely thinks of it. She was wondering if she could be the same foolish Celeste who came smiling and happy to the sunny gardens. “But it was wrong to expect so much," she said to herself. "I always had so little sense." Celeste was a lady, and finding that the Baron had really and truly nothing more to say, she would not force herself upon him. Rising, she said steadily, "I must return, Monsieur. I am glad to have seen you." He walked with her till they reached the busy, noisy streets; then she stopped. 66 Have you far to go, Celeste? Shall I accompany you?" "No, Monsieur," she said quietly. He watched her till the throng hid her from his sight; then, with a sigh of relief, he turned away. Pity him a little; his disappointment was very great. All these years he had thought of the pretty French girl, with her sparkling eyes and merry laugh, who had crept into his cold, unimpressionable heart, he scarcely knew how. He had lived happily enough without her, it is true, but when his father's death left him master of his own fortune, his thoughts had turned tenderly to his early love. How different this wan-faced woman in her poor attire, from the Celeste he had pictured. This was not the woman he had meant to make his wife. His heart did not throb one beat the faster at her voice. He would be very glad to help her, to give her money, but that she would not takeonly his love, which was beyond his control. He had only that day arrived in Paris; he was lonely and miserable. Hailing a passing cabriolet, he got in. "Take me to some place where I can lodge and be quiet.' The driver looked surprised. "Anywhere!" And the Baron slammed the door, and, throwing himself back on the cushions, gave way to his moody meditations. The Baron made no objection when his cabriolet stopped before one of the oldest houses in a street-fashionable once, respectable now, and much frequented by people who, like himself, were fond of rest and retirement. 66 I see, Mademoiselle, I see; one does not want remembrance when one is poor. No one shall know, I promise." Celeste breathed freely again, for the old man was faithful, she knew. Once in her own room, she sat down to think over the marvelous chance, which, in all this great city, could find but one house wherein to place the Baron and herself. Change after change flitted over her face. In fancy she again wandered with him along the shady walks in her uncle's garden; again his low words of love trembled in her ear; then came the parting, and the tears fell once more at the remembrance, and she smiled a little as she recalled his promise of a speedy return. Celeste read few romances; her own was quite sufficient. On these memories she had lived through all the long years of loneliness. The past was her reality; what had but just occurred, the dream. Lost in her reverie, she sat idly gazing into the court-yard. Suddenly a voice she knew but too well reached her. Springing to her feet, with her heart beating so that she could scarcely hear, she opened her door and listened. "Hansel! Hansel!" called the voice, impatiently. |