that money was needed; and the mahout spent the next ten minutes in loud
praises of his kneeling elephant, presumably on the theory that "it pays
to advertise," for it is not only the West that worships at that shrine.

When Ismail came back with a tray on which were several little heaps of
money the mahout went into abject ecstasies of mingled jubilee and
reverence. His mouth betrayed unbelief and his eyes glinted avarice. His
fingers twitched with agonied anticipation, and he began to praise his
elephant again, as some people recite proverbs to keep themselves from
getting too excited.

The various heaps of money on the tray must have amounted to about fifty
dollars. The mahout spread out the end of his turban by way of begging
bowl, and the Mahatma shook all the money into it, so that Ismail gasped
and the mahout himself turned up his eyes in exquisite delirium.

"Go or you will be too late!" was all the Mahatma said to him, and the
mahout did not wait for a second command, but mounted his elephant's
neck, kicked the big brute up and rode away, in a hurry to be off before
he should wake up and discover that the whole adventure was a dream.

But he could not get away with it as easily as all that. Ismail was
keeper of the gate, and the gate was locked. Akbar doubtless could have
broken down the gate if so instructed, but even the East, which is never
long on gratitude, would hardly do that much damage after receiving such
a royal largesse. Ismail went to unlock the gate, and demanded his
percentage, giving it, though, the Eastern name, which means "the usual
thing."

And the usual argument took place--I approached to listen to it--the
usual recriminations, threats, counterclaims, abuse, appeals to various
deaf deities, and finally concession--after Ismail had made the
all-compelling threat to tell the other mahouts how much the gift had
amounted to. I suppose it was instinct that suggested that idea. At any
rate, it worked and the mahout threw a handful of coins to him.

Thereat, of course, there was immediate, immense politeness on both
sides. Ismail prayed that Allah might make the mahout as potbellied and
idle as his elephant; and the mahout suggested to a dozen corruptible
deities that Ismail might be happier with a thousand children and wives
who were true to him. Whereat Ismail opened the gate, and Akbar helped
himself liberally to sugar-cane from a passing wagon; so that every one
was satisfied except the