"Oh, sir, it doesn't matter so much about us," spoke up Nadine. "We can manage to do without food for a day. We have already done so before, but our animals——"
"Ah! yes, to be sure," responded the magistrate. "You have a horse, which has been put in a stable. You need not worry about him. He will get all he needs."
"But Nalla—what about him?" persisted Nadine, seeming much concerned.
"Nalla!" exclaimed the magistrate rather testily, for he was anxious to be through with the children for the present. "Who is it that you call Nalla?"
"Nalla," interposed the brigadier, "is a very big and dangerous beast, an elephant, which has insisted upon following us, and which at this moment is out there before your door."
The magistrate went to the window and drew aside the curtains. There was Nalla, silent and motionless, surrounded by a curious crowd that took care not to come too near him.
"Oh! ho!" he exclaimed. "What a huge creature? Is he indeed dangerous?"
"He?" replied Nadine, smiling at the idea. "He dangerous? Not a bit of it! He is as kind as possible, and I will guarantee that he does nobody any harm. But as he will not consent to part from us, won't you please permit him to remain at the prison gate until we come out again?"
"Very well, then, if you assure me that he will not do any mischief, I will consent to what you ask," said the magistrate graciously, "and to ease your minds, I may tell you that I will at once give orders that a thorough search of the neighborhood be made for any signs of your sister."
Nadine, her heart somewhat lightened by the promise, thanked the old man, and then the three children were escorted by the gendarmes to the prison.