So, with many misgivings, Nadine consented, and they set to work at once. Steady was put into the shafts, and the van, followed by Nalla, drawn back into the square.
Then Cæsar mounted the elephant. The man had gone back into his van, and closed the door. Obeying his young master's orders as accurately as if he had possessed human intelligence, Nalla seized the shaft of the intruding van, and began to pull it out into the center of the square.
At the first movement the man flung open the door, swearing furiously, and shouting out:
"What are you doing? Leave my van alone! How dare you interfere with it?"
When he saw how it was being moved, however, he made no demonstrations against the elephant. He was altogether too big an antagonist. It was a case where discretion was decidedly the better part of valor.
But he abused Cæsar in the vilest language, striving to terrify him by the sheer violence of his threats.
Nalla seized the Shaft of the intruding Van.
Cæsar, securely seated upon Nalla's neck, only laughed at him, while, without pausing, the elephant tugged away at the van until it was drawn well out into the middle of the square.
By this time quite a crowd of spectators had gathered, and, Nadine having in her own vivacious way explained what it all meant, they unanimously took her side. If the infuriated owner of the van had attempted to resort to violent measures he would assuredly have found himself mobbed in short order.