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Neela Deo had gone out to find the Gul Moti, carrying the Chief Commissioner and Son of Power. No one had come back. Calamity must have fallen. Men went out on horses to trace them. But it was certain priests of Hanuman who found the caravan first. They overheard talk of strange happenings; but more about Neela Deo's undreamed-of achievement.
And by the way, you may not know, but it's unwritten law past touching the man in this country never uncovers his head excepting in the presence of his own women. It's more than a man's life is worth to knock another's turban off, even by accident. But look, yonder are the turbans of my caravan deputies, law-clerks and servants together on Neela Deo's neck!
Neela Deo was safe everyone was safe. Bonfires blazed up in every village within sight of the caravan's way home from so far away as watchers on Hurda's highest hill could see burning night and day. At last the one furthest from Hurda went out. The watchers raced in Neela Deo's caravan was coming! One by one, the bonfires went out till it was this side the Nerbudda. Then the people made ready.
Ominously quiet questions went up to the mahouts; and the mahouts were full-ready to answer! In the end, it sounded like a wild Himalayan chant about Neela Deo's great fight to save Gunpat Rao. The people listened patiently, till an inward meaning enlightened them. Then they exulted: "Neela Deo, Neela Deo, King of all elephants!"
Many of the fighting pairs broke away from each other, when they heard Neela Deo's charging challenge, as if agreeing that the destiny of all hung on the issue of his contest. This left most of the mahouts free to watch.
When he circled round, trying to get in on Neela Deo's side, the King was too quick for him forcing him out, forcing him further out; not permitting him to follow his chosen course, whatever direction he took. He came in with his peculiar art of approaches the jarring blow was there! He played all his lightning feints the shock that rocked him was a flash quicker!
They shared their garlands with him, that he should not come into Neela Deo's presence with empty hands; and they exulted because he ran with them, for the fame of Son-of-Power was already established. At the margins of the true jungle, a high-tenor voice came out to meet them.
Neela Deo's first blow had shaken the pale one, carrying a different dimension of force from any in himself. He gave way backing from it with an angry scream, showing surprise and rage in every movement.
It was all faster now than in the beginning, but he was not exhausted, he was not broken; only a bit less certain, a breath less quick, when he tried the same old trick to get in back of Neela Deo's ear. And it was on that false turn that Neela Deo caught him fairly in the throat caught him and finished him in one thrust with the blunt point of a banded tusk.
Kudrat Sharif had been raked off Neela Deo's neck and was scrambling to his feet on the ground. In one glimpse I saw his dothi was torn and a long dripping cut on one thigh. He shouted, but I couldn't make it out, because all the elephants were trumpeting to the universe.
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