The horses took fright, plunging and seizing the bit; a number of them ran off "ventre-à-terre."
The captain of the soldiers was furious; mastering his horse by means of the spurs, he fired. The ball passed so close to the head of Alemguir that it singed his hair. At this, transported with rage, I ran at him; I seized him with my trunk, and dragged him out of the saddle. At the shriek which he uttered his companions, instead of coming to his rescue, left him and fled.
For a moment I balanced him in the air, like a trophy; then I tossed him into the middle of the river, where he fell with a splash almost as great as the one I myself had made recently.
The wretch struggled for a moment, and then was swept on and dashed over the cataract.
[CHAPTER X]
GANESA
The sun was shining now, and dried us with its warmth. We were saved. And this joy compensated for all the sufferings we had endured.
The Prince dismounted; standing before me, he gazed gratefully upon me.