Her eyes again opened, and she tried to part her parched and bleeding lips, but she had not yet the strength.
“There may be some hope now, I think,” said Mr. Bruce.
Hurriedly a litter was made from the blanket taken from the elephant, and with one of her friends at each corner of this, Enola was carried to the nearest villa. This was not far away, and, when reached, attendants were found in waiting, and Enola being carried to one of the large, cool and comfortable apartments, she was soon under the care of female attendants. Carefully they bathed the bruised and bleeding body, and under Mr. Bruce’s orders they anointed and bandaged the cuts. Finally, after long and hard work, and after hope of resuscitating her was nearly lost, she opened her eyes.
Mr. Bruce was standing at her side at the time, and seeing that she had regained consciousness, and that danger for the time was passed, he carried the glad news to the anxious ones waiting for his report. All immediate anxiety being allayed they breathed freer. Onrai, who now felt at liberty to return to the city, began to make preparations for so doing, he feeling that at such a time his presence was greatly needed among his people. Accordingly he took a few of his attendants, and after making arrangements for hourly messengers to be sent him, giving full account of Enola’s condition, he started. Just before leaving, Enola opened her eyes, and after a moment, uttered the one word, “Gip.”
It was perfectly natural that returning consciousness should bring to memory the fearful experiences of the night before and of the brave animal which had fought so nobly to protect, and save her life. In their anxiety for Enola all thought of poor Gip had been forgotten, but when she spoke his name and they knew that she was anxious about him, and when they remembered all that he had done for her, they censured themselves for having forgotten him for even a moment.
Onrai gave orders to some of his people to go to the assistance of Gip, and to do all in their power to relieve the noble beast, if yet alive. Mr. Bruce, not being needed for the time in the sick-room, went with the party as did also Sedai. The great animal heard them coming, and tried to raise his shattered head, but could not. A slight movement of the trunk was the only sign of life he could give. Mr. Bruce had not made a study of the anatomy of the elephant, and he understood very little about them, but he determined to do all he could for the animal.
Gip had unfortunately fallen on his right side and it was necessary for them to turn him over. This was no easy task; in fact it looked at first as if this could not be accomplished; but Mr. Bruce quickly thought out a plan which proved successful. Large ropes were tied to the legs of the side on which the animal was lying, and by a long and hard pull he was turned over onto the unbruised side. A groan, almost human in its intensity, escaped the crushed beast, as he was pulled over but he seemed to understand that his friends were there to help him. Mr. Bruce commenced at once to examine his wounds.
The lower side of the head had been crushed and the body for half its length was lacerated. He had fallen on these wounds and the sand and gravel which covered the ground had worked into the wounds and were now held there by clotted blood. Water was brought from the lake and poured into the wounds until cleansed of all dirt, and then soothing liniments were poured into them. Gip did not make a movement, the great intelligent beast realizing that all this washing and anointing was being done to help him. It was a question as to how they were going to bandage the huge body, and after careful consideration this was deemed impossible until he could stand, as they could not carry the bandage about the body otherwise. The head, however, was lifted by the exertions of a dozen of the attendants and great, white silk bandages were carried around the monstrous hulk. Pails of water were now brought and he drew in great draughts with his trunk. Food was also brought where he could reach it. Everything that could possibly be done for his comfort was done, and two men were left to watch over the animal until evening, when he was to be again bandaged, and, if possible, gotten on his feet and taken to the villa.
Mr. Bruce now hurried back to the villa. He had been gone for some time and he feared that Enola might need his attention. He had considerable misgiving regarding her speedy recovery, or even her recovery at all, for she had been fearfully bruised and cut, and had been so long exposed afterward, that there was great fear of blood-poisoning setting in. He realized what this wonderful woman had undergone in these few short hours, and he doubted if another could have passed through such an ordeal and lived. But Enola had a perfectly healthy constitution and Mr. Bruce had a faint hope that this intrepid girl might pull through.
As he entered the villa, Nellie, who had been sent for, met him in the hall, and to his look of inquiry, said,