time, noticing that the motions of the trunk were slackening and the
elephant intended to deposit him on the ground, a new idea unexpectedly
occurred to him, and, taking advantage of the moment at which he found
himself close to the prodigious ear, he grabbed it with both hands and
in the twinkling of an eye climbed over it onto the head and sat on the
elephant's neck.

"Aha!" he exclaimed from above to Nell; "let him understand that he
must obey me."

And he began to stroke the elephant's head with his palm with the mien
of a ruler and master.

"Good!" cried Nell from below, "but how will you get down now?"

"That is small trouble," Stas answered.

And slinging his legs over the elephant's forehead, he entwined the
trunk with them and slid over it as if down a tree.

"That is how I come down."

After which both began to pick out the rest of the thorns from the legs
of the elephant who submitted with the greatest patience.

In the meantime the first drops of rain fell; so Stas decided to escort
Nell to "Cracow"; but here an unexpected obstacle presented itself. The
elephant did not want to part from her and every time she attempted to
go away he turned her about with his trunk and drew her towards him.
The situation became disagreeable, and the merry play in view of the
stubbornness of the elephant might have ended unfortunately. The boy
did not know what to do as the rain became each moment heavier and a
downpour threatened them. Both withdrew, indeed, somewhat towards the
egress, but gradually, and the elephant followed them.

Finally Stas stood between him and Nell. He fixed his gaze upon the
elephant's eyes and at the same time said to Nell in an undertone:

"Don't run, but continually draw back to the narrow passageway."

"And you, Stas?" the little maid asked.

"Draw back!" repeated Stas with emphasis, "otherwise I shall have to
shoot the elephant."

The little maid, under the influence of this threat, obeyed the
command; the more so as, having already unbounded confidence in the
elephant, she was sure that under no circumstances would he do any harm
to Stas.

But the boy stood about four paces from the giant, not removing his
eyes from him for a moment.

In this manner a few minutes passed; a moment full of danger followed.
The ears of the elephant moved a score of times, his little eyes
glittered strangely, and suddenly his trunk was raised.

Stas felt that he was turning pale.

"Death!" h