ide the mahout, on the other side of which was Tippoo
snoring peacefully. How he had managed to move the boy without waking
him was a marvel. As soon as Alec was released he tried to get away, but
Maharaj would not allow it, and forced him to lie down again while he
stood guard over all three.

They say boys have no nerves, but even at this distance of time Alec
shudders to recollect his sensations on that night of horror caused by
the poor crushed thing he lay shoulder to shoulder with. He feigned
sleep and tried to roll a foot or two away, but Maharaj had grown
suspicious, and rolled him back, so that he lay flat on his
shoulder-blades between the forelegs of the elephant, watching the
restless swing of the trunk above him. This was better than looking at
what lay beside him, and he wanted no inducement to keep his gaze
averted. A hyena laughed like an exultant fiend. Great flying foxes
slowly flapped across the face of the moon, like Eblis and his
satellites scanning the earth for prey, and the pack of jackals sat
silently waiting for the body of the dead.

Maharaj was very quiet and vigilant, and seemed to understand the
seriousness of his crime. The usual gurgling, grunting, and rocking with
which he amused himself at night were wanting, and though there was a
large field of sugar-cane near by, and he must have been hungry, he
never tried to help himself as he would have done on any other occasion.
In spite of the feeling of repulsion Alec began to feel a little pity
for the remorseful giant, for it was most probable he would be shot for
killing Piroo, whose drunken madness had brought about his own death.

But all things have an end, and even that night passed away like the
passing of a strange delirium. About four o'clock Maharaj became very
restless, thinking it was time to start, and pulled and pushed Tippoo
till he sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking about in a dazed way. The
elephant went down on his knees, and the boys took advantage of the
invitation and were soon in their places. Then Maharaj slowly picked up
his burden and they recommenced their journey home. The jackals were
much disappointed, and followed listlessly for a short distance, then
slunk off down a nullah to avoid the light of day.

A sleepy policeman was the first to notice the dead man in the trunk of
the elephant. With a yell of alarm he sprang from the footpath where he
stood, panting and staring till Maharaj had passed; then some con