he crashing of
trampled undergrowth, the death-yells of men amid the savage screams and
fierce trumpetings of a herd of elephants.

"Oh, what's that? What terrible thing is happening?" cried the girl.

Dermot seized her and dragged her close against the trunk of the tree. In
the gloom they saw men flying madly past them pursued by elephants. One
wretch not ten yards from them was overtaken by a great tusker, which
struck him to the ground, trampled on him, kicked and knelt upon his
lifeless body until it was crushed to a pulp, then placing one forefoot on
the man's chest, wound his trunk round the legs and seized them in his
mouth, tore them from the body, and threw them twenty yards away. All
around similar tragedies were being enacted; for the herd of wild elephants
had charged in among the attackers.

Dermot gathered the terrified girl in his arms and held her face against
his breast, so that she should be spared the horror of the sights about
them; but he could not shut out the terrible sounds, the agonised shrieks,
the despairing yells of the wretches who were meeting with an awful fate.
He remained motionless against the tree, hoping to escape the notice of the
fierce animals, whom he could see plunging through the jungle in pursuit of
their prey, for they were hunting the men down. Suddenly one elephant came
straight towards them with trunk uplifted. Dermot put the girl behind him
and raised his rifle; but with a low murmur from its throat the animal
lowered its trunk, and he recognised it.

"Thank God! we are saved," he said. "It's Badshah. He has brought his herd
to our rescue."

The girl clung to him convulsively and scarcely heard him; for the tumult
in the jungle still continued, though the terrible pursuit seemed to be
passing farther away. The giant avengers were still crashing through the
jungle after their prey; and an occasional heartrending shriek told of
another luckless wretch who had met his doom.

Dermot gently disengaged the clinging hands and repeated his words. The
girl, still shuddering, made an effort and rose to her knees.

Dermot went forward and laid his hand on the elephant's trunk.

"Thank you, Badshah," he said. "I am in your debt again."

The tip of the trunk touched his face in a gentle caress. Then he stepped
back and said: "Now we'll go at once, Miss Daleham. We won't stop this time
until we reach your bungalow."

The girl had already recovered her courage and stood beside