gods for help,
with his heart. Listening intently, the American began to get the
words:

"What are we before thee--oh thou most Exalted! Children of men, our
generations pass before thee as the seasons. But thou, oh mighty
King--thou Destroyer of the devastator, thou Protector of our wise
judge, blessed among men is he for whom thou hast spilled thy blood!
We will send his name down from generation to generation under the
light of thy name! Thou most Glorious!"

The next words were more difficult to catch:

"Nay, nay! but my beloved, it is a little hurt! Do I not know, who
serve thee? I whose father served thee before me--whose father served
thee before him? I whose son shall serve thee after me? As my small
son lives, he shall serve thee--being come a man--in his day, even as I
serve thee in this my day!"

This was evidently enticing the great creature to live. But the voice
winged away again:

"Ah, thou heart of my heart, thou life of my life! Hear me, the milk
of a thousand goats shall cool thee. The petals of a thousand blooms
shall comfort thee. Tuberose and jasmine and champak shall comfort
thee, thou Lover of rare things! Nay, it is not enough, but the
offerings of the heart's core of love shall satisfy thee--the blood of
a million-million blooms shall anoint thee, to thy refreshment!"

The words were lost for a moment, before they rang again:

"Are not the coverings of our heads upon thy wounds? Thou, most
excellent in majesty! Have we not laid the symbols of our honour upon
thy wounds? Thou, with the wisdom of all ages in thy head and the
tenderness of all women in thy heart! We have seen thee suffer, that
he who is worthy might live! Thou Discerner of men! We have seen thee
destroy the killer, without hurt to him who is kind! Thou Equitable
King!"

And slowly out of the shadows of forest trees, came the Chief
Commissioner's elephant caravan, trailing in very dejected formation,
behind Neela Deo, who showed naked as to his back--for his housings had
been stripped off him; and as to his neck, for Kudrat Sharif was not on
it but on the ground--walking backward step by step, enticing him with
the adoration and sympathy of his voice.

Sanford Hantee saw Neela Deo stop to receive the first garlands on his
trunk. From there on, the great elephant paused deliberately after
every step to take the offerings of homage from hundreds of reaching
hands.

When the American had laid his gar