The Elephant God | Page 9

all their ends together over the little
vessel. From them water began to drip, the drops came faster and
finally little streams from the pulpy interior filled the cup to the brim
with a cool, clear, and palatable liquid. The liana was the wonderful
pani-bêl, or water-creeper.
Dermot drank until his thirst was quenched, then sat down with his
back against a tree and lit his pipe. He smoked contentedly and watched
Badshah grazing. The elephant plucked the long grass with a
scythe-like sweep of his trunk, tore down succulent creepers and broke
off small branches from the trees, chewing the wood and leaves with
equal enjoyment. From time to time he looked towards his master, but,
receiving no signal to prepare to move on, continued his meal.
At last the Major knocked out the ashes of his pipe, grinding them into
the earth with his heel lest a chance spark might start a forest fire, and
whistled to Badshah. The elephant came at once to him. From his
haversack Dermot took out a couple of bananas and held them up. The
snake-like trunk shot out and grasped them, then curving back placed
them in the huge mouth. Dermot stood up and, slinging his rifle over
his shoulder, seized Badshah's ears and was lifted again to his place
astride the neck.
Once more the jungle closed about them, as the elephant moved off.
The rider, unslinging his rifle and laying it across his thighs, glanced
from side to side as they proceeded. The forest grew more open. The
undergrowth thinned; and occasionally they came to open glades
carpeted with tall bracken and looking almost like an English wood.
But the great boughs of the giant trees were matted thick with the
glossy green leaves of orchid plants, from which drooped long trails of

delicate mauve and white flowers.
Just as they were emerging from dense undergrowth on to such a glade,
Dermot's eye was caught by something moving ahead of them. He
checked Badshah; and they remained concealed in in the thick
vegetation. Then through the trees came a trim little kakur buck,
stepping daintily in advance of his doe which followed a few yards
behind. As they moved their long ears twitched incessantly, pointing
now in this, now in that, direction for any sound that might warn them
of danger. But they did not detect the hidden peril. Dermot noiselessly
raised his rifle, aimed hurriedly at the leader's shoulder and fired. The
loud report sounded like thunder through the silent forest. The stricken
buck sprang convulsively into the air, then fell in a heap; while his
startled mate leaped over his body and disappeared in bounding flight.
At the touch of his rider's foot the elephant moved forward into the
open; and without waiting for him to sink down Dermot slid to the
ground. Old hunter that he was, the Major could never repress a feeling
of pity when he looked on any harmless animal that he had shot; and he
had long ago given up killing such except for food. He propped his rifle
against a tree and, taking off his coat and rolling up his sleeves, drew
his kukri and proceeded to disembowel and clean the kakur. While he
was thus employed Badshah strayed away into the jungle to graze, for
elephants feed incessantly.
When Dermot had finished his unpleasant task, it still remained to bind
the buck's legs together and tie him on to Badshah's back. For this he
would need cords; but he relied on the inexhaustible jungle to supply
him with these.
While searching for the udal tree whose inner bark would furnish him
with long, tough strips, he heard a crashing in the undergrowth not far
away, but, concluding that it was caused by Badshah, he did not trouble
to look round. Having got the cordage that he needed, he turned to go
back to the spot where he had left the kakur. As he fought his way
impatiently through the thorny tangled vegetation, he again heard the
breaking of twigs and the trampling down of the undergrowth. He
glanced in the direction of the sound, expecting to see Badshah appear.

To his dismay his eyes fell on a strange elephant, a large double-tusker.
It had caught sight of him and, contrary to the usual habit of its kind,
was advancing towards him instead of retreating. This showed that it
was the most terrible of all wild animals, a man-killing "rogue"
elephant, than which there is no more vicious or deadly brute on the
earth.
Dermot instantly recognised his danger. It was very great. His rifle was
some distance away, and before he could reach it the tusker would
probably overtake him. He stopped and stood still, hoping that the
rogue had not caught sight