Nadine now felt it time to intervene.
"Let me try what I can do with Nalla," she said gently to Cæsar. "While you go back to the van and change your clothes. I am sure I can manage him."
Cæsar was very loath to confess himself beaten, and Nadine had to do some coaxing before she could get him to follow her suggestions. But at last, after another effort to make Nalla stir by abusing him vigorously, he gave up in despair, and went off to the van to put on dry clothes.
As soon as he had gone Nadine tried her hand. She went to the water's edge, for she felt sure Nalla would not treat her as he had done Cæsar, and stretching out her hand which contained a slice of bread left over from their lunch, said in her most winning tone:
"Come here, Nalla. I have a bit of bread for you, and I want you to leave the water. You've been in it quite long enough."
Nalla gave her a look that said plainly:
"I understand you perfectly, and of course you're right, so I suppose, now that I have had my fun, I may as well do what you wish."
So, slowly moving his vast bulk, he came towards her, picked up the bread with his trunk, passed it into his cavernous mouth, and continued his way out of the water, until he stood on the grass, a very muddy, but very contented creature.
"You dear old thing!" cried Nadine, patting the end of his trunk affectionately. "I knew you'd obey me. You just love me, don't you? and I love you."
Nalla returned the caress after his own fashion, and then, without another word, proceeded back to the van, his whole gait and manner expressing the utmost good-humor. He had had his fun, and he was now ready to return to duty.