“Oh, I could believe that. But what makes you think it’s the same elephant as the one you saw before?”
“Oh, I did doubt it at first, sir; but I am sure now.”
“Why?”
“Because of his size. He’s the biggest one that came to the camp; and he knowed me again by the smell.”
“Bah! He smelt the fruit.”
“But the smell of the fruit wouldn’t make him stroke me down all over and talk to me in his way. You wait a bit till he comes next time. He will soon show you how friendly he is to me. Why, it was only yesterday, I think—though the time goes so rum here, where one sleeps so much—he come to see me, and one of the Malay chaps as was taking him to the water tried to drive him away, and, my word, you should have seen him chivy the chap off and call him a hinterfering blackguard, in helephant! He’s my friend, sure enough, sir; and it will take a bit of time to settle matters, but I think I can make him understand what he’s got to do, and start off some night and carry us to Campong Dang.”
“Ah, if you only could, Pete!” said Archie faintly; “but it all sounds to me like a dream, and—”
There was a deep breath, and silence.
“And what, sir? What were you going to say?—Why, I’m blessed if he ain’t asleep!” muttered Peter. “Well, so much the better. Now I’m going to see if I can’t get out; and if that beggar hears me I must try and gammon him. Wonder whether I can come that chicker, chicker, chick, chack, chack, chack, like one of them big monkeys. I did manage to imitate it pretty fairly time back when I teased that one as Captain Down used to make a pet of. Well, why shouldn’t I now?”