odding to himself, and
turning to them said--

"If you come near to me and take hold of my ears, you may get on my
back, and I will carry you safely."

When the Elephant spoke, Dudu fell back from surprise, and looked at him
as though he had not heard aright, but Salimba advanced with all
confidence, and laid hold of one of his ears, and pulled herself up on
to his back. When she was seated, she cried out, "Come, Dudu, what are
you looking at? Did you not hear him say he would carry you?"

Seeing his wife smiling and comfortable on the Elephant's back, Dudu
became a little braver and moved forward slowly, when the Elephant spoke
again, "Come, Dudu, be not afraid. Follow your wife, and do as she did,
and then I will travel home with you quickly."

Dudu then put aside his fears, and his surprise, and seizing the
Elephant's ear, he ascended and seated himself by his wife on the
Elephant's back.

Without another word the Elephant moved on rapidly, and the motion
seemed to Dudu and Salimba most delightful. Whenever any overhanging
branch was in the way, the Elephant wrenched it off, or bent it and
passed on. No creek, stream, gulley, or river, stopped him, he seemed
to know exactly the way he should go, as if the road he was travelling
was well known to him.

When it was getting dark he stopped and asked his friends if they would
not like to rest for the night, and finding that they so wished it, he
stopped at a nice place by the side of the river, and they slid to the
ground, Dudu first, and Salimba last. He then broke dead branches for
them, out of which they made a fire, and the Elephant stayed by them, as
though he was their slave.

Hearing their talk, he understood that they would like to have something
better than dried meat to eat, and he said to them, "I am glad to know
your wishes, for I think I can help you. Bide here a little, and I will
go and search."

About the middle of the night he returned to them with something white
in his trunk, and a young antelope in front of him. The white thing was
a great manioc root, which he dropped into Salimba's lap.

"There, Salimba," he said, "there is food for you, eat your fill and
sleep in peace, for I will watch over you."

Dudu and Salimba had seen many strange things that day, but they were
both still more astonished at the kindly and intelligent care which
their friend the Elephant took of them. While they roasted their fresh
meat over the flame, an