35 - The Elephant

The evening was calm and lovely.

The sea murmured in the distance,

and the rising moon shed a beauty

over the landscape.

The summer night closed around us

in all its solemn stillness,

and our deepest feelings were touched.

From the hills echoed

the mournful howl of jackals.

Far away sounded unearthly

hollow snortings and neighings,

reminding one of the strange

cry of the hippopotamus;

above these, occasional

deep majestic roarings

made our hearts quail

with the conviction

that we heard the voices of

lions and elephants.

pg 230 - 231
Swiss Family Robinson

by Johann Wyss

Altered by Sasheena Kurfman 2010