The Memoirs of a White Elephant

camp-kettles the men crouching, their forms showing dark against the light; then there were dances, songs, and music. They were celebrating the

l; all was dark; a heavy sleep weig

ose up o

could reach. No sound, but the intermittent call of distant sentinels, who could not be seen. Before the tent where my Master was imprisoned two soldiers in white tunics marched

Master? and escape with him? Wo

walking in opposite directions from each other, so that

nless in the darkness, I followed them with my eyes, striving to understand the

d behind the tent, and at the same instant the other soldier also had his back to me, while maki

nd if one saw me attack the other he would have

g this one brief mo

an added difficulty-shortening still more the available time

. I could not succeed; but with a single jerk

as

e soldiers to make another turn-and moved still nearer. I preserved the attitude of a

t make the attempt-at t

t a repugnance to slaying-by treachery as it seemed-these two unknown human beings. But after all, was it not men who h

nd it was with the greatest co

no sound except the cracking of his bones. I had just throw

backward, and so hastily that he fell.... The unfortunate man never

the sentinels who guarded the outskirts of the camp, of which we occupied the centre; no doubt they

ster suddenly, lest he might u

with fatigue? Or was he grieving silently

anguish of knowing that the moments

d it half-way over, just as a strong wind might have done. There remained nothing between us, and I saw the Prince seated on the ground

my companion in mis

eeling them to judge of their weight. They were nothing for me. With one blow they were broken-first those o

are free?" said Alemguir, who, by degr

nderstood; he sp

rating me!-You are

. I showed him the tether on my foot, and the stake that dragged after it. He stooped down and unfastened the cord; then

all his attention upon directing

igh he could look about him, listen to the voices of the sentinels, and ascertain s

rection; but it was impossible to pierce the d

lines; but these pathways would naturally be guarded, and the Prince judged it w

the march, if they suspect any danger, can avoid snapping a twig, or rustling a leaf. The most acute hearing will fail to detect the sound of their footsteps; and whoever

eeing my way, and obliged very often to pass through an opening barely larger than my own person, wit

to pass, for they had been rapidly fortified, ditches had been dug, and entre

down close to my e

h wall, and turn it into th

dily; but I could not prevent a dull thud when it fell into the ditch. It

plodded across the mud in the bottom of the di

camp, and I joyfull

eized him and placed him cross-wise upon my tusks, supporting him with my trunk, and without slackening my pace. My quick ear had detect

ullets struck my crupper. They bounded off, for these little leaden pellets are incapable of pe

exception of a single ball which graze

he shelter of a thicket which at lea

t I heard the sound

ckest of the woods, making a pathway by the aid of my tusks, crushing the branches under my

danger, and I trembled with an anxie

f courage, spoke

know how horses fear you; if they reach us you have only to tu

so in words, my thought was,

y, which comes so early in summer, began to break. A dull continuous

If we can but reach it and put it betwee

between the young trees and saplings which I crushed under foot; and we soon found ourselves beside a rapid river which flowed in the depths of a ravine

e our salvation is going to be our ruin! It will nev

ft, in a way to form a sort of incline; but when I thought I might risk myself upon it the earth crumbled away, and, sliding down the sticky mud, I shot into the water more quickly than I had intended, with a tr

reposed deliciously in the cool refreshing water, which restored my strength. The Prince

he turned

our enemies

e woods, had reached the banks of the river; they saw us,

watched t

aim," cried he, "

echoes repeated it as if they would never stop. It did not fail to produce the effect my Master expe

id Alemguir; "some of the men are unhorsed, and the o

ld see nothing, but was grea

ing on the other side, which presented only a straight wall, while

me. I felt the water beginning to draw me on with increasing swiftness, as though being attracted towards a gulf. I struggled vigorously against the c

pright on your neck, so that I

leaned against it, steady

yourself onto the shore where our enemies are-the river

rce greater than mine drew me towards the fall, from

urage!" call

of strength that I possessed. But I was out of breath, stunned by the fearful r

HIM, SEIZED HIM WITH MY TRUNK

und under my feet. That revived me; in two strokes I was within a few yards of the sh

hand and spoke gently to me. The water ran foaming between my legs as tho

oy, and were preparing to aim at their ea

rushed at them from the wa

and seizing the bit; a number o

head of Alemguir that it singed his hair. At this, transported with rage, I ran at him; I seized him with my trunk, and drag

tossed him into the middle of the river, where he fell with

oment, and then was swept on