The big elephant, though apparently intent upon demolishing as many leaves as he could contain, proved himself to have been busy with his little, pig-like eyes the while, for as the mahout took his seat he began muttering and chuntering again, and dropping a bunch of the green food, he turned up his trunk and began to pass it over the body of his rider.
The look of fear had died out of the mahout’s countenance as he turned his face to the two Englishmen, and he nodded and smiled rather pitifully, as he seemed to be feeling now that his life was going to be spared.
“All right!” shouted Peter; and the mahout winced again as he drew his ankus from where he had tucked it in the folds of his sarong, as if to signify that he was ready to perform any duties his masters wished.
“That’s done it, Mister Archie,” said Peter. “One can’t understand everybody’s lingo, but good, loud English goes a long way if you put plenty of powder behind it. You see now.—Forward!” roared Peter, and the mahout, who had been nervously watching his every movement, turned and spoke to Rajah, when the monster moved on at once into the deep, rich glow that was now penetrating the tunnel-like road, while the lesser elephant stayed for a few minutes to collect a good-sized bundle of twigs, and then moved after its fellow as contentedly as if everything were right.
“Then you are going to make him take us right back to camp, Pete?” said Archie.
“Yes, sir; that’s the marching orders, if we can do it; but it won’t be very long before it’s dark.”
“Yes; it will soon be sundown. How long do you think the elephant will go on?”
“I d’know, sir. It’s chance it—chance it, just as it’s been ever since we started this morning. I say, though, this ’ere’s more comfortable than riding barebacked, holding on to a rope, sir, eh?”
“Pete, my lad,” said Archie, with a sigh, “it’s wonderful! How did you manage it all?”
“Oh, sir,” said the lad modestly, “it’s only having a bit of a try. One never knows what one can do till you sets to work, and when you puts your back to it and goes in for chance it as well, it mostly turns out pretty tidy.”