“I am glad to welcome you, sir,” said the Rajah in excellent English, though with a strange intonation. “I would ask you to come up into the howdah to sit with me, but I have already asked Captain Hulton. Another time. It does not matter, for you have a beautiful horse, and you ride him well.”
“I am glad to welcome you, sir,” said the Rajah.
Dick was hot before; now he glowed, and found himself wanting in words when the Rajah loosed his hand.
The next minute the captain was mounting by using the elephant’s trunk as a succession of steps, the intelligent beast helping him so that, with the aid of the mahout’s hand and the friendly grasp of the Rajah, he climbed to the howdah; the elephant heaved and rolled like a boat among waves; and, at a word from the Rajah, his force divided and drew up on either side, facing inward for the troop to pass between them and then close in behind.
Wyatt took the command as the captain’s horse was led by one of the men.
“Gallop back,” said the former, “and order the rear-guard and train to advance at a trot, Darrell;” and, extricating himself from the crowd of horsemen, Dick sent his charger flying to the rear, a burst of exclamations following him as he passed, while half-a-dozen dark-skinned, fierce-looking horsemen chipped spurs to their steeds’ flanks and followed him at a gallop.
His mission was soon accomplished, and the train came rumbling along; while, still followed by his self-formed escort, Dick galloped back to take his place by Wyatt, who was at the head of the troop, following close behind the Rajah’s elephant, in advance of which were one half of the horsemen, the other half being in rear of the train.
“What do you think of this, Dicky?” said Wyatt as they rode slowly on towards the city.