as gliding safely into the mahout's place, his widely
outstretched legs settling themselves behind the monster's ears.

"Now, Mister Archie, give us one of them spears. Got it! Now then--
talk about a mahout!--_Geet! geet_! Netherway!" he cried, using the
words familiar to him from the days when he used to watch the carters
and their teams. "What are you up to now?--Look at that, now, Mister
Archie!" For, to the lad's great delight, the elephant had swung
himself round a little, the effect being to Archie that of a heavily
laden boat in a rough sea, and reaching out with his trunk towards the
basket with the rest of the fruit, he had picked it up, and then began
to march solemnly and sedately in the direction taken by the other
elephants every morning since they had passed the great shed.

"Can you hold on, Mister Archie?" said Peter.

"Yes; pretty well. Are you all right?"

"Oh, I'm all right, sir; but 'ware trees as soon as we get into that
path in front. Mind as the branches don't wipe you off."

"I'll try."

"I say, sir, don't the Rajah know how to take care of hisself!" cried
Peter, carrying his spear diagonally, and looking as if he was prepared
to use it if any one should present himself to stop their way. "Now
what do you think of our plan, sir?"

"Oh, it's splendid," replied the young officer. "But never mind me.
Don't talk much, for I hurt my head a little when I fell."

"Don't think about it, sir. It will soon pass off," cried Peter without
turning his head, and then muttering, "Think of me talking to the poor
fellow like that!--Now then, go ahead, Rajah! Best leg foremost, old
man. Headquarters, please; and I hope you know the way, for I'm blest
if I do. All I know is that I don't want to see that little chap again
for him to go and fetch some of them guards."

The elephant slowly shuffled along for the next ten minutes or so,
before the first difficulty that presented itself to the amateur mahout
appeared in front; for after they had pursued the regular elephant-path
beyond the clearing for some little time, there in front was a dividing
of the road, and upon reaching this the elephant stopped as if in doubt,
and began slowly swinging his head, ending by planting the basket he
carried upon the earth and helping himself to another of the coarse
melons.

"Which way?" growled Peter, as he looked down each path in turn, the one
being fairly trampled, but green with the shoots of the cane