“It’s no good, Pete,” said Archie bitterly. “They are in full chase. The elephant recognises the cry, and you will never get him to stir.”
“An obstinate beggar!” grumbled Peter. “Makes me feel as if I could stick that there spike right into him, though he is fanning my poor, hot legs with these flappers of his. Well, Mister Archie, I suppose it’s no use to fight against him. He has got the pull of us, and there’s only one thing for us to do now.”
“What’s that, Pete?”
“Act like Bri’ish soldiers, sir,” said the lad through his set teeth. “Hold the fort, and fight.”
At that moment the cry was more audible, and the elephant gave his ears a quicker flap and said, Phoonk!
Chapter Twenty Nine.
Peter’s Rajah.
“Ain’t it been a mistake, sir?” said Peter Pegg. “We ought to have risked it both of us together, stirred him up with the spears or the point of that kris, and made him go on.”