d was not likely to notice the substitution of Malchus
for Nessus, with whose face he could not yet have become familiar. By
this time numbers of the townsmen were as usual coming up to the citadel
to worship in the temple or to visit friends dwelling there. Malchus
learned that since his escape had been known each person on entrance
received a slip of brass with a stamp on it which he had to give up on
leaving.

All employed in the citadel received a similar voucher, without which
none could pass the gate. The time was now come when the elephants were
accustomed to be taken down to the fountains in the town below, and the
critical moment was at hand. The mahout had already begun to prepare his
elephant for the part he was to play. It had been trumpeting loudly and
showing signs of impatience and anger. The animal was now made to kneel
by the door of its stable, where Malchus had already lain down at the
bottom of the howdah, a piece of sacking being thrown over him by the
Arabs. The two Arabs and the mahout carried the howdah out, placed it on
the elephant, and securely fastened it in its position.

These howdahs were of rough construction, being in fact little more than
large open crates, for the elephants after being watered went to the
forage yard, where the crates were filled with freshly cut grass or
young boughs of trees, which they carried up for their own use to the
citadel.

The mahout took his position on its neck, and the elephant then rose to
its feet. The symptoms of bad temper which it had already given were
now redoubled. It gave vent to a series of short vicious squeals, it
trumpeted loudly and angrily, and, although the mahout appeared to be
doing his best to pacify it, it became more and more demonstrative. The
superintendent of the elephants rode up.

"You had better dismount and take that brute back to the stable," he
said; "he is not safe to take out this morning." As he approached the
elephant threw up his trunk, opened his mouth, and rushed suddenly at
him. The officer fled hastily, shouting loudly to the other mahouts to
bring their animals in a circle round the elephant, but the mahout gave
him a sudden prod with his pricker and the elephant set off with great
strides, his ears out, his trunk in the air, and with every sign of
an access of fury, at the top of his speed. He rushed across the great
courtyard, the people flying in all directions with shouts of terror; he
made two or three turn