left eighteen small children
entirely without bread, and it is I who must fill their little
stomachs," said Deesa, beating his head on the floor.

"Who brought you the news?" said the planter.

"The post," said Deesa.

"There hasn't been a post here for the past week. Get back to your
lines!"

"A devastating sickness has fallen on my village, and all my wives are
dying," yelled Deesa, really in tears this time.

"Call Chihun, who comes from Deesa's village," said the planter.
"Chihun, has this man got a wife?"

"He?" said Chihun. "No. Not a woman of our village would look at him.
They'd sooner marry the elephant."

Chihun snorted. Deesa wept and bellowed.

"You will get into a difficulty in a minute," said the planter. "Go back
to your work!"

"Now I will speak Heaven's truth," gulped Deesa, with an inspiration. "I
haven't been drunk for two months. I desire to depart in order to get
properly drunk afar off and distant from this heavenly plantation. Thus
I shall cause no trouble."

A flickering smile crossed the planter's face. "Deesa," said he, "you've
spoken the truth, and I'd give you leave on the spot if anything could
be done with Moti Guj while you're away. You know that he will only obey
your orders."

"May the light of the heavens live forty thousand years. I shall be
absent but ten little days. After that, _upon_ my faith and honor and
soul, I return. As to the inconsiderable interval, have I the gracious
permission of the heaven-born to call up Moti Guj?"

Permission was granted, and in answer to Deesa's shrill yell, the mighty
tusker swung out of the shade of a clump of trees where he had been
squirting dust over himself till his master should return.

"Light of my heart, protector of the drunken, mountain of might, give
ear!" said Deesa, standing in front of him.

Moti Guj gave ear, and saluted with his trunk. "I am going away!" said
Deesa.

Moti Guj's eyes twinkled. He liked jaunts as well as his master. One
could snatch all manner of nice things from the road-side then.

"But you, you fussy old pig, must stay behind and work."

The twinkle died out as Moti Guj tried to look delighted. He hated
stump-hauling on the plantation. It hurt his teeth.

"I shall be gone for ten days, oh delectable one! Hold up your near
forefoot and I'll impress the fact upon it, warty toad of a dried
mud-puddle." Deesa took a tent-peg and banged Moti Guj ten times on the
nails. Moti Guj grunted and shuffle