All looked at her in astonishment as she caressed the elephant, throwing her arms about the great trunk, patting him and calling him by endearing names in the meantime. She now noticed the bandages about his head and said.
“Oh, my poor Gip, and you were wounded? Ah, yes, I remember now, that great, cruel log struck you,” and as she said this she almost fell backwards in her weakness, but Mr. Graham caught her and attempted to bear her to the couch, but she clutched Gip’s trunk and cried so pitifully not to be taken from him, that Mr. Bruce stepped forward and said:
“It will not hurt her and it may do her an inestimable amount of good. Listen, she already remembers a few of the instances of the storm and mad ride.”
“It was terrible, was it not, Gip?” Enola went on, “and you tried so hard to keep me from danger; but it blew so furiously and the air was so thick with stones and sand and sticks, and you were blinded, dear friend. But you are safe now, all but that poor head which the cruel log struck. But where are we now, Gip? The storm is over and we are together; but where?” and Enola looked about her with eyes which began to show some signs of returning reason.
“Ah, I see, they have found us and have taken us back to the Temple; and what are these?” and she looked at her bandaged hands and arms. “And my face, too! Oh, they hurt so,” and the poor girl seeming for the first time to realize her suffering, fell back on the floor.
“Come, Enola,” said Mr. Graham, “you are tired and weak, and must lie down. Gip shall stay near you,” he continued, as Enola again turned toward the elephant.
“Oh, uncle, I am so tired,” said Enola, as Mr. Graham laid her on the couch.
“Thank Heaven!” almost whispered Harry, “her reason is not destroyed.”
“No,” said Mr. Bruce, as he gave her a quieting powder, “Gip has indeed saved her life and her reason, too, for the sight of him has brought from out of the chaos the scenes of last night, and these have brought in their train other thoughts, until reason itself has been restored.”
This news was received with tears of joy. All fears were now allayed regarding Enola, but there were the greater ones awaiting them on the morrow. What was to be the result of the conference of the King with the people to-morrow? Onrai had assured them that it would be all right, that they would abide by his decision in the matter; but was there not a possibility of these people, who were experiencing for the first time the fears which superstition brought out, being swayed by these rather than by the King? Such thoughts had occurred to Mr. Bruce, but he had said nothing of his fears to the others, not wishing to worry them unnecessarily. Indeed, the thought had come to Mr. Bruce to suggest their immediate departure from On, but Enola’s condition forbade this, and again, they could not possibly reach the cave before morning, and if this intended escape was once discovered, they would be stopped and dealt with roughly to say the least.