He set up a frantic shouting. He hammered on the massive door with all his might only to get back the dreary echoes of his blows. There was nobody near at that time to hear him. Everybody in Beaulieu was sound asleep.
There was one creature, however, that was awake, and whose keen ears caught the cries Cæsar uttered in his frantic concern. Nalla, keeping patient faithful watch beside the prison-gate, heard his young master, and realizing that he was in trouble at once started trumpeting with all his might.
The appalling sound soon wakened the whole neighborhood, and the startled folk appeared at the windows and doors of their houses, but not one of them ventured to approach the huge animal from which it was proceeding.
On seeing that no one responded to his call Nalla tried to break down the gate of the prison in order to reach his young owners, and set them at liberty. But the gate was too strong. It successfully resisted his assault upon it. Then the wise old creature showed his remarkable intelligence.
He turned from the gate to the railing and with one stroke of his mighty trunk laid low the light iron bars. The way being thus cleared he went out alone into the deserted streets of the town.
Where now was he going with rapid step, and uplifted trunk as though ready to act in his own defense? Certainly he did not need any one to show him the way. He evidently knew just what he was about.
On he went, not in the least bothered by the darkness of the night, until he reached the house to which he had accompanied the children that morning—that is to say, the residence of the magistrate.
Then he came to a halt, and, without any concern for the peaceful slumbers of the honest townsfolk of that quarter, he proceeded to renew his vigorous trumpeting!
The magistrate woke up, and hurried to the window to see what was the matter.
"The elephant which was left shut up in the prison yard!" he exclaimed. "How on earth did he get here? He'll arouse the whole town. Go away, you brute, and be quiet!"