"Yes, but if you try it," said the colonel solicitously to Aurelle, "don't forget to slide off by the tail as quickly as you can if the elephant comes to marshy ground. His instinct, when the ground gives way beneath him, is to seize you in his trunk and put you down in front of him to have something solid to kneel on."
"I'll remember, sir," said Aurelle.
"In the Malay States," said the major of Engineers, "the wild elephants wander about the main roads. I often met them when I was on my motor-bike; if your face or your clothes annoy them they pick you off and smash your head by treading on it. But except for that they are quite inoffensive."
A long discussion on the most vulnerable part of an elephant followed. The padre showed his knowledge by explaining how the anatomy of the Indian elephant differed from that of the African species.
"Padre," said Aurelle, "I always knew you were a sportsman; but have you ever really done any big game shooting?"
"What! my dear fellow? Big game? I've killed pretty nearly everything a hunter can kill, from the elephant and rhinoceros to the lion and tiger. I've never told you the story of my first lion?"
"Never, padre," said the doctor, "but you are going to now."
"Padre," said the colonel, "I should like to hear your stories, but I make one condition: some one must start the gramophone for me. I want my dear 'Mrs. Finzi-Magrini' to-night."
"Oh no, sir, for pity's sake! I'll let you have a rag-time if you absolutely must grind that damned machine."
"Not at all, doctor, you aren't going to get off so easily. I insist on 'Finzi-Magrini.' Come, Aurelle, like a good chap, and remember, speed 65, and don't scratch my record. Padre, you may now begin the story of your first lion."