hint at his real feelings, knowing
that he was far from being what is called "an eligible match," and
having a surprisingly humble opinion of his own merits. He was now
receiving five hundred rupees a month, which, after all, did not go far
in expensive Rangoon. Could a man marry on such an income, or on the
supposition that what was barely enough for one would be sufficient for
two?

As far as he was in a position to judge, Sophy's ideas were not
extravagant, and she would be better almost anywhere than in her
present abode; but he had not the slightest right to suppose that she
cared two pins for him; on the other hand, he had a hateful and
well-founded conviction that not a few of the young men among her
acquaintances would be glad to claim Miss Leigh as a wife. There were
Fotheringay the A.D.C., Gubbins of the Oil Company, and one or two
others, fluttering about her and scorching their wings.

* * * * * *

After a month of procrastination and delay, the Rangoon Commissariat
Department, under an energetic new official, decided to embark a
collection of sixty elephants, which had long been awaiting transport
from the neighbourhood of Rangoon, to India. Now a large sailing-ship
had been chartered to carry this interesting cargo across the Bay of
Bengal to Vizagapatam, where they would be scattered to work in all
parts of the country.

The sailing-ship was anchored across the river at Dallah, and, in order
to reach their destination, the elephants were called upon to swim the
Rangoon River--sixty, no fewer, mostly young animals which had been
caught and trained, the property of the Indian Government. The move
took place upon Thursday (the Garrison holiday), and a large number of
people were assembled to witness this unusual departure. The emigrants
were ranged up in groups, two huge tuskers appeared to be in charge of
the business of embarkation, and, to do them justice, carried it out
with conspicuous success, taking it in turn to convoy select parties
across the river, here a mile wide. The "personally conducted" were at
first delighted to be in the water. They splashed and played about
like huge porpoises, and were smacked and kept in order like naughty
children by their great tusker nurse, and eventually guided to a
landing. Some, on the other hand, did not enjoy the excursion, were
alarmed by the force of the current and turned tail. These were
chased, vigorously chasti