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Then forth from it, to the accompaniment of terrified squealing and trumpeting from the female elephants, Badshah stalked, ears cocked and tail up and the light of battle in his eyes, broken iron shackles dangling from his legs. Last of all came Ramnath, who, recognising him, halted and salaamed. "The fit is on him again. The jungle calls him. He is mad."

He had flashed a warning to Parker in ample time, returned to the peelkhana and bidden Ramnath hide with Badshah in a concealed spot in the foothills where he could easily find them, sent the other mahouts and elephants out of reach of the invaders, and climbed up to the Fort to watch with his late subaltern the arrival of the enemy.

At the word of command he sank to his knees to allow his master to mount; and then, at the touch of his rider's foot, turned his head towards home and started off obediently. As they approached the peelkhana a cry was raised, and the elephant attendants rushed from their huts to stare in awe-struck silence at animal and man. Ramnath approached with marked reverence, salaaming deeply at every step.

Then he turned to the elephant and patted it. "Good-bye, Badshah, old boy," he said. "I don't think that Ramnath will ill-treat you." The huge beast seemed to understand him and again touched him with the tip of its trunk. "Badshah knows Your Honour," said the Hindu. Dermot smiled at this very usual vernacular expression.

Upon this he consulted with his companions, Rajah Ramnath and a Musalman gentleman, Saiyid Ali, who with four private troopers agreed to join in the hazardous enterprise of forcing their way through the bands which by this time invested the premises. Early the following morning they descended to the courtyard and mounted their horses in silence. There was no time to spare.

But Badshah always showed unmistakable signs of fondness for the white man, whom he seemed to regard as his friend and protector. Dermot was in the habit of taking him out into the jungle every day, where he went ostensibly to shoot. After the first few occasions he displaced Ramnath from the guiding seat on Badshah's neck and acted as mahout himself.

Yet the sahib sleeps there if he does sleep without fear. And no harm comes to him." Ramnath slowly shook his head. "The sahib does not sleep. Nor is there aught in the forest that can do him harm. Or my elephant either. The budmash tried to kill the sahib, and Badshah protected him. When the big snake attacked Badshah, the sahib saved him. "But what do they in the forest?" asked Chotu again.

"Tell me that, Ramnath-ji." Once more Ramnath shook his head. "What know we? We are black men. What knowledge have we of what the sahibs do, of what they can do? They go under the sea in ships, beneath the land in carriages. They fly in the air like birds. That have I seen with my own eyes at Delhi " "And I at Lahore," broke in the old Mohammedan.

But, instead of using the ankus the heavy iron implement shaped like a boat-hook head which natives use to emphasise their orders to their charges the Major simply touched the huge head with his open hand. And his method proved equally, if not more, effective. He was soon able to dispense altogether with Ramnath on his expeditions, which was his object.

Their host came to fetch them himself with two elephants; Badshah, carrying a charjama, conveying them, while the other animal bore their luggage and servants. With jealous rage in his heart Chunerbutty watched them go. Noreen enjoyed the journey through the forest and up the mountains, with Dermot sitting beside her to act as her guide, for on this occasion Ramnath drove Badshah.