ry ruined wall, without mentioning thousands
of jackals and wild cats. Our elephants would not stay, and if they did
stay no doubt they would be devoured. We ought to leave the ruins as
quickly as possible and go with them to the nearest village, which would
not take us more than half an hour. In the village everything had been
prepared for us, and our friend the Babu was already there, and getting
impatient at our delay.

Only on hearing this did we become aware that our bareheaded and
cautious friend was conspicuous by his absence. Probably he had left
some time ago, without consulting us, and made straight to the village
where he evidently had friends. Sending for us was a mere trick of his.
But the evening was so sweet, and we felt so comfortable, that the idea
of upsetting all our plans for the morning was not at all attractive.
Besides, it seemed quite ridiculous to think that the ruins, amongst
which we had wandered several hours without meeting anything more
dangerous than a snake, swarmed with wild animals. So we smiled and
returned thanks, but would not accept the invitation.

"But you positively must not dare to stay here," insisted the fat Patel.
"In case of accident, I shall be responsible for you to the Government.
Is it possible you do not dread a sleepless night spent in fighting
jackals, if not something worse? You do not believe that you are
surrounded with wild animals..... It is true they are invisible until
sunset, but nevertheless they are dangerous. If you do not believe us,
believe the instinct of your elephants, who are as brave as you, but a
little more reasonable. Just look at them!"

We looked. Truly, our grave, philosophic-looking elephants behaved very
strangely at this moment. Their lifted trunks looked like huge points of
interrogation. They snorted and stamped restively. In another minute one
of them tore the thick rope, with which he was tied to a broken pillar,
made a sudden volte-face with all his heavy body, and stood against the
wind, sniffing the air. Evidently he perceived some dangerous animal in
the neighborhood.

The colonel stared at him through his spectacles and whistled very
meaningly.

"Well, well," remarked he, "what shall we do if tigers really assault
us?"

"What shall we do indeed?" was my thought. "Takur Gulab-Lal-Sing is not
here to protect us."

Our Hindu companions sat on the carpet after their oriental fashion,
quietly chewing betel. On being asked their