Now came the time for the Elephant’s revenge. The Officer fell just under the animal’s trunk!
It was, as the Officer at once realized, by no means a pleasant situation. As his men were some yards away from him, and unable to come in a body to his rescue till perhaps too late, the Officer was exceedingly uneasy.
“I had better soothe the monster,” he said to himself. Then aloud, and in a pleasant voice: “What a nice handy trunk that is of yours; you must be able to carry so much in it? As for me, I have to travel with a portmanteau, a Gladstone-bag, a hat-box, and a gun-case; it is a terrible nuisance.”
He paused, but the Elephant made no reply.
“This is not very pleasant,” said the Officer uneasily to himself. “I fear the beast is of a sulky temper. What will happen to me?”
And he lay still, trembling and fearful.
At last the day closed in, the Mortals shut up the shop and left, and the time of the Toys arrived.
The Elephant then addressed the Officer in a slow voice and ponderous manner.