The Elephant God

huttias. Then they sprang to their feet and be

lephant! The

hoes and a man with a scarred face beside him. While the rest fled they stood their ground and called vainly to their companions to come back. When they

ugh her assailant's skull, then with his second barrel he shot the man with the pistol through the heart. The first raider collapsed

fixed on him. When the swordsman rushed at her she seemed scarcely conscious of her peril but she started in terror and grew deadly pale

eling a few yards away and Dermot stood be

p at him and

you woul

eartedness that he was far fro

ime, saying, 'Here we are again.' Oh, I forgot. I am a bit late. I sho

ld break down in the sudden relief from the strain and anxiety. But there was no cause to fear it. The girl was quietly brave and imitated his air of u

, who always appears in time to rescue the persecuted maiden. I a

cut, so she tried to stand up but f

to the chair again. She felt angry at her weakness, but she was

m being tied up," he

hrilled at his gentle touch. A feeling of shyness overcame her, and she turned her eyes away

y away from here?" she

ran away seemed too scared to think of returning. But

t that they

entary remark about Bads

orpse. Then he pulled open the single garment. A thin cord consisting of three strings of spun cotton was round the body next the skin, passing over the left shoulder and under the right arm. This Dermot cut off. From inside the garment he took out some

eling elephant and too

eham," he said. "Badsh

e elephant heaved up his big body and set off a

anion. "I have not asked you yet about your adventures. Tell me

m, but told me to go for my ride in the opposite direction. I didn't stay away long. I had just returned to the bungalow and dismounted and was giving my pony a piece of sugar, when several Bhuttias rushed at me from

ked Dermot. "I saw him, an

e Bhuttias tied my hands and tried to lift me on to my pony's back, but Kitty got frightened and bolted. Then they didn't seem to know what to do, and one went to a man who had remained at a distance from us and spoke to him. He apparently told them to fetch

ng about this man-the

s one of the two that you shot-the man with shoes. It seems absurd, but do you know, his fac

u hadn't? Think hard,

shook h

ness most of the time that I was in t

oked disa

rl con

bearers of my chair. I noticed that the leader spoke to one man only, the man

at language these two

n and on and never halted until we reached the place where you found us. It seemed to be a spot that they had aimed for. I saw

they beha

ed the girl. "Well, that is all my adventure. But now please tell me how you came so opportunely to my rescue. Was it by

his dispute with Badshah about the route to be followed and how

t wonderful animal in the world. Forgi

ilence between them for a little. Then No

d sooner be killed outright by the elephants than endure to be carried off to some awful place by those wretch

r, I suppose,"

ht it at first-an attempt on the part of enterprising Bhuttia raiders to carry off an Englishwoman for ransom. For when he overtook them

d judge they were a long way from Malpura, and it seemed to him that Badshah was not heading directly for the garden. But he had sufficient confidence in the animal's intelligence to refrain from interfering with him again. The pangs of hu

ry, Miss Dale

had time to think about food," sh

like a cu

feel I'd give anything for one now. But unfortunately ther

ot s

y came away from Granger's bungalow, where I stayed last night, without replenishing my stores, which had run low. I intended

a jungle cock had crowed

e whispered. "But my rifle w

adshah in cover and waited. Presently there was a patter over the dry leaves lying on the ground, and a jungle cock, a bird similar to an English bantam, stalked across the glad

!" exclaimed Noreen, who

wouldn't have been much dinner left for us. Now I think that we shall have to halt for a little time. I know that you must be eager to get back home and relieve yo

the girl. "He thor

to be thus alone with him in the enchanted jungle. She had forgotten her fears; and the remembrance of her recent unpleas

her in his arms, and she was thankful that he did not look at her, but when he had put her down, busied himself in taking

aid. "A rest will do you good, too. I am going to

ions of the day had worn her out. She watched Dermot as he moved about absorbed in his task. From one pocket of the pad he

, Miss Daleham," he remarked. "We

e it?" she asked. "There'

ty of

ear a str

round us, waiting fo

looked

I don't see any.

hing. "I'll admit you into one of the secr

built three fires, two on the ground with a large lump of hard cl

, as they do in books of adventure," he said, turning to the interested girl. "It can

a box and li

e to these for me, I'll go an

kukri. From the thicker end he cut off a length from immediately below a knot to about a foot above it, trimmed t

kettle and te

off similarly two smaller

the pani bêl. When he found the plant he sought, he cut off a length and brought it to the girl, who had never

e cried. "Is it rea

fect

e you going

t bambo

ly that w

be charred," replied Dermot, placing the pot over the first fi

ound aluminium dish and with water from the pani bêl he mixed dough, rolled it into balls, and patted them into smal

the natives do," exclaimed Noreen. "I love them.

kes over with a dexterous flip when one side browned; then, when

ould cook?" Noreen said, laughing.

e chupatis while I get th

ting of wet clay and laid it in the hot ashes of t

ed: "The water is actually boiling?

n the bush in Australia," said Dermot, opening the ca

ll-toasted chupatis and turned

orth being carried off by those wretches to have all these deligh

chief round the pot be

airy in your wonderful jun

ondensed milk," he replied, producing a tin from

ike my tea unsugared and milkless. No, I refuse to have a spoon." For he took out a couple and some aluminium plates from the inexh

th, Badshah twenty yards away betrayed his presence by tearing down creepers and breaking off branches. In due time Dermot took from the hot ashes a hardened clay ball, broke it open and served up the

sistent and use our

le he cleaned and replaced his plates, cutlery, and cooking vessels. Then, leaning his back against a tree, he filled and lit his pipe, while Noreen w

. As though the shot were a signal, fire was opened on the glade from every side, and for a moment the air seemed full of whistling bullets. The soldier sprang to Noreen, picked her up like a child in his

neck, while a third cut the skin of his thigh. He seemed to bear a charmed life; and the girl watching him felt her heart stop, as the blood showed on his face and neck. The flying lead sent leave

glance was their last. The soldier's rifle spoke, and the face disappeared as its owner's body pitched forward among the bushes and lay still. At the sharp report of the white man's weapon the firing all around ceased suddenly. But the intense silence that follo

eply. There was a crashing in the undergrowth as Badshah dashed away and burst through the cordon of enemies encircling them. Dermot's heart sank; for, although he rejoice

clouds over the undergrowth and drifted to the tree-tops, he had detected the sharp crack of a modern rifle occasionally among the duller reports of the more ancient weapons. The mysterious attackers were apparently numerous and completely surrounded them. Dermot cursed himself for his folly in halting for food instead of pushing on to safety without a stop. But he had calculated on the superstitious fears of the

h. But there seemed no hope of escape; for it was evident from the sounds and the smoke that the girl and he were completely surrounded. For one wild moment he thought of rising suddenly to his feet and making a dash through the

ot ten yards away were parted quietly; and a head was thrust out. With a swift motion Dermot swung his rifle round until the muzzle pointed over his toes and, holding the weapon in one hand like a pistol, fired point-blank at the assailant who had crep

wait their pleasure. He was far more concerned about the girl than for himself. A feeling of dread pity filled his heart when he thought of what her fate would be when he was no longer alive to protect her. Should he kill her, he asked himself, and give her a swift and merciful death instead of the

d sepoys with him. They would have made short work of a hundred of such ruffians as now threatened him. But it was useless to long for them. He drew his kukri and laid it on the ground beside him, ready for the last grim struggle. He had resolv

terrible task before him and was about to move, when