"We're going to get on, you know—I'm sure of it!" he said breathlessly. "If only I were old enough to be your friend!"
Skag remembered the father's words.
"I've never had a friend younger than myself," he answered, "and there are only a few years difference—why not?"
Their hands met as men. And it was still early in the afternoon.
Horace went into the house and spoke with a servant. Coming out, he took a long minute to get some excitement well in hand before speaking:
"I've arranged for one thing to show you, already! My boy will be back from the bazaar soon, to let me know whether the time will be to-day or to-morrow. It's a surprise—if you don't mind, Skag Sahib."
"All right, then what is the most interesting thing you know about?"
Skag asked.
"Elephants. No question."
"Have you many here in Hurda?"
"Not any belonging to Hurda; but our Chief Commissioner has forty Government elephants in his stockades—the finest ever. Neela Deo, the Blue God—who is the leader of the caravan—the mahouts say there isn't an elephant in the world to touch him; and Mitha Baba and Gunpat Rao—they're famous in all India. And Nut Kut; indeed, Skag Sahib, you should see Nut Kut. They don't allow strangers about where he is; he's the one—the mahouts won't let me go near him."