A sudden light flashed in the darkness; there was a rattling volley of shots, and a shower of bullets struck my crupper. They bounded off, for these little leaden pellets are incapable of penetrating the tough hide of an elephant. They merely stung me like little pricks of red-hot iron.
A second discharge fell short, with the exception of a single ball which grazed my ear, and carried off a small piece.
I ran still faster, hoping to gain the shelter of a thicket which at least would protect us from the bullets.
Just as I reached it I heard the sound of galloping horses.
"We are pursued," said Alemguir. He had resumed his place on my neck. I plunged into the thickest of the woods, making a pathway by the aid of my tusks, crushing the branches under my feet. But this delayed us; it also betrayed our course, and left an open road for our enemies.
There seemed no way of meeting this danger, and I trembled with an anxiety that for the moment paralyzed me.
My Master, full of courage, spoke soothingly to me.
"Calm yourself," said he, "there is no cause for despair; you know how horses fear you; if they reach us you have only to turn and fall upon them to terrify them, and put them to flight!"
But although I could not say so in words, my thought was, The shots can reach my Master!
However, I took courage, and managed to push on still faster. The day, which comes so early in summer, began to break. A dull continuous noise now became audible, and drowned the sound of the horses' hoofs.