but the great snake. I stayed on top of Neela
Deo once when he ran home. It was not good sitting. I've never cared
for the experience again.

"As the jungle began to open toward Hurda, he was nervous. Of course I
should have been more alive to his behaviour--should have made out what
was disturbing him. If we lose him, I shall feel very much
responsible. But his mahout was easing him with low chants--made of a
thousand love-words. They're not bad to think by. I was clear away
off in an adjustment of old Hindu and British law--you know we have to
use both together; and sometimes they're hard to fit.

"I know no more about how it happened than you do. I was knocked well
up out of my abstraction by a most unmerciful jolt. 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.

"There are always four hunting pieces in the howdah and I reached for
the heaviest automatically, leaning over to see whatever it was. There
was nothing intelligible in the hell of noise and nothing in sight. I
tell you, I could not see a hair of any creature under me--but Neela
Deo. And don't fancy Neela Deo was quiet this while. My howdah was
pitching me to the four quarters of heaven--with no one to tell which
next. Six of the hunters had rifles trained on us, but I knew they
dared not fire for the fear of hitting me or him. And I'm confident
they would be as ready to do the one as the other.

"Then he began swaying from side to side with me. It was a frightful
jog at first, but he went more and more evenly, further and further
every swing, till I kept myself from spilling out by the sheer grip of
my hands. The rifles were knocking about loose.

"At last I was up-ended cornerwise and I thought, on my word, I thought
my elephant had turned upside down. A shriek fairly split my head open
and Neela Deo was dancing straight up and down on one spot. It was a
thorough churning, but it was a change.

"I should say his dance had lasted sixty seconds or more, before he
himself spoke; then he put up his trunk and uttered a long strong
blast. I've never heard anything like it; in eighteen years among
elephants, I've never heard anything like it.

"After that he slowed down and they closed in on him, with weeping