The trunk was raised slowly again, and the mahout uttered a few words, with the result that the private had to make a strong effort over self to keep from starting away from an expected blow; but in obedience to the driver’s words the great beast slowly passed his trunk over the young soldier’s shoulders and breast, and then, grunting, swung up the end as if asking for more of the bread.
“Only two bits more,” said Peter; and he turned to the mahout and made signs to him that he should mount to the elephant’s neck.
The young soldier hardly expected it, but his meaning was so well conveyed that the mahout uttered a command, when the elephant passed his trunk round the driver, swung him up, and dropped him easily into his seat, raising his ears the while, and then lowering them over the rider’s knees.
“Bravo! Splendid!” cried Pegg, clapping his hands; and the next minute, after another word or two which the elephant evidently understood and obeyed, the little mahout dropped lightly down and stood smiling at his admiring audience.
It was not Peter Pegg’s words, but the meaning must have been conveyed by his eyes to the mahout, for Peter said excitedly:
“There, I’d give a suvron, if I’d got one, to be able to say to our chaps that I’d had a ride on a helephant like that;” and then, to his surprise, the mahout looked at him, smiling, uttered a few words to him, and held out his hand.
“Eh? What?” cried Peter. “Let you hold my rifle? Well, I oughtn’t to; but there aren’t no officers near. There, I’ll trust you, and I wish I could tell you what I want.”
To his surprise and delight, as the mahout took hold of the rifle and examined it curiously, uttering another order to his great charge, Peter Pegg felt the great coiling trunk wrap round his waist, swing him up in the air, and drop him astride of the huge beast’s neck. “Oh, but, I say, this ’ere won’t do,” cried Peter; “I am wrong ways on:” and scrambling up from sitting facing the howdah, he gradually reseated himself correctly, nestling his legs beneath the great half-raised ears. “My word! ain’t it nice and warm?” cried the young soldier excitedly. “Shouldn’t I like to ride round the camp now!—I say, Joe, ain’t this prime?”
His comrade, who had been looking on admiringly, uttered a grunt, which was followed by an order from the mahout, resulting in the elephant reaching up his trunk, which coiled round the young soldier’s waist, twitched him out of his seat, and dropped him at the driver’s feet.
“Here, just a minute,” panted the young soldier, thrusting his hand into his haversack and withdrawing the last bit of bread. “Here you are, old chap;” and he transferred the piece to the raised trunk, which he patted again and again before it was withdrawn.—“Thankye, comrade. You will find that prime ’bacco, and here’s wishing I may see you again.”