fore coming slowly forward in its heavy, ponderous way,
crashing down the green herbage beneath the orchard trees, and its great
grey bulk parting the twigs of a tree that stood alone, and beneath
whose shade the monster stopped.

The boys stood still now, and Singh uttered a short, sharp order in
Hindustani once more.

Instantly, but in a slow, ponderous way, the great beast slowly
subsided, kneeling in the long grass, while Singh went up quite close,
with the animal watching him sharply the while, and laying out its trunk
partly towards him, so that when close up the boy planted one of his
feet in the wrinkling folds of the monstrous nose, caught hold of the
huge flapping ear beside him, climbed quickly up, and the next minute
was astride the tremendous neck and uttering another command in the
Indian tongue. The result was that the elephant raised its ears
slightly so that Singh could nestle his legs beneath; and as he settled
himself in position a merry smile spread about his lips.

"Come on, Glyn," he cried. "It's all right. Take my hand."

Glyn obeyed, and as if fully accustomed to the act, he rapidly climbed
up and settled himself behind his companion.

There was another sharp order, and the great beast slowly heaved himself
up, muttering thunder, and grumbling the while.

"Well, I _am_ blessed!" cried the proprietor. "You, Jem, did you ever
see such a game as this?"

The man addressed did not say a word, but gave one thigh a tremendous
slap, while the elephant stretched out his trunk towards them, took a
step or two in their direction, and uttered a squeal.

Singh shouted out a few words angrily, and the long serpent-like trunk
hung pendent once again, with the tip curled up inward so that it should
not brush the ground.

"Now then," cried Singh to the proprietor, "where do you want him to
go?"

"Right up into the show-field, squire," cried the man excitedly. "Think
you can take him?"

"Try," replied the boy with a scornful laugh; "but I ought to have an
_ankus_. But never mind, I can do it with words.--I say, Glyn," he
continued, speaking over his left shoulder, "we are going to ride in the
procession after all. If the Colonel knew, what would he say?"

"But--but--" cried Morris. "My dear boys, pray, pray come down! Think
of the consequences to yourselves--and what will be said to me."

"Oh, it's all right, Mr Morris," cried Glyn confidently; "we must take
the elephant now. Singh and I