down upon the spectators in
front, as if the mimic advance were real.

The trumpeting that greeted the charge was not defiant, for the
elephants turned simultaneously as upon a pivot and set the example of
making for the nearest points of the jungle; and to the charging men it
seemed as if they formed part of some immensely extended human
hay-making machine, whose glittering spikes were about to sweep off a
living crowd which, excited and yelling wildly, had turned and fled for
safety.

The gaily coloured men of the two Rajahs, perhaps feeling in doubt as to
their duty to fetch back the elephants--perhaps not: they may have been
influenced otherwise--had dashed off after the huge quadrupeds at once,
but the crowd of ordinary spectators were in nowise behind. Shrieking,
yelling, and angry with each other as they dashed away, they made for
shelter at full speed, and when the charge was at an end and the bugles
rang out, the evolution had been so well driven home that a complete
transformation had been effected.

Where the great gathering had spread from side to side of the parade,
there was the long, halting line of panting and powder-blackened men,
who, in spite of their breathlessness, had followed up their British
cheer with a tremendous petillating roar of laughter, which ran along
the line from end to end and back again--a roar of laughter so loud that
hardly a man knew that the band was now playing in full force "God save
the Queen," with an additional obbligato from the drums--that one known
as the "big" threatening collapse from the vigorous action of the
stick-wielder's sturdy arms.

It was only a few of the men who were cognisant of the fact that the
Major was lying down exhausted, and wiping his eyes.

"Who's that?" he panted. "Who's that--you, Maine?"

"Yes, sir."

"Oh dear! Oh dear! I can't stop it! It's quite hysterical. Give me a
water-bottle;" and then, after an application to the unstoppered mouth,
"Oh dear! How they did run! I hope poor Dallas has seen it all. I
wish he had been here. Hah! I'm better now. Why, Maine, we've swept
them clean away. Are they collecting farther on?"

"No, sir; I can't see a single soul."

"Who's that?" said the Major again.

"Me, sir."

"I didn't know you, my man. What is it, Sergeant?"

"Well, sir, I was only going to say, as I was so near, what about them
there squibs and crackers as was to be let off to-night?"

"Oh, the rockets and firework