“Hear that, Mister Archie?” cried Peter, as he made for where the fruit-basket stood.
“Yes,” replied the subaltern, raising himself slowly and painfully. “Is anything the matter?”
“No, sir; only my friend come to see us.”
“Your friend?” said Archie wonderingly.
“Yes, sir; the helephant. Can’t you see him?”
“No,” said Archie. “Oh yes, I can see its trunk.”
“That’s right, sir; come for some breakfast;” and the young private strode back, breaking up the cake and placing a goodly piece within reach of the extended trunk, for it to be taken and disappear through the opening, when the trunk quickly returned ready for more.
The business was repeated again and again, and the pieces of bread were followed by bananas and a fair-sized vegetable which might have been either pumpkin or melon.
The trunk curled round it directly, but this proved too great in diameter to pass altogether through the hole, dropping from the trunk and being dashed at by its donor.
“Well caught!” cried Peter. “You must wait a minute, old chap,” he continued, pulling out his knife, with which he divided the small pumpkin in four, each portion being quietly taken and drawn through, to disappear in the monster’s cavernous interior, to be followed by several more bananas, Peter dealing out his gifts deliberately so as to make more of what in its entirety was a mere snack for the visitor.