se
supports had become curved from much riding on an elephant's neck; but
there was no mistaking the private's action as he took out the roll of
tobacco, opened one end so as to expose the finely shredded aromatic
herb, held it to his nose, and then passed it on to the mahout, whose
big, dull, brown eyes began to glisten, and he hesitated as if in doubt,
till the private pressed it into his hands and made a sign as if of
filling a pipe and puffing out the smoke. The little fellow nodded his
satisfaction, while Peter Pegg smiled in a friendly way and pointed to
the huge elephant, which had ceased munching the turned-over bundle of
green food at his feet, and now stood swinging his head to and fro and
from side to side.

"My word," said Peter, "he is a beauty!" And then, looking about him
first at one and then at another until he had bestowed a glance upon the
other five great beasts, he turned once more to what proved to be the
Rajah's special mount, and then spoke again to the little mahout.

"He is a beauty," he said; and once more his looks conveyed to the
driver the admiration he felt. "May I feed him?" he added, taking out a
piece of the white bread he had obtained, and making a sign as if
holding it out to the elephant.

The mahout looked doubtful, but the elephant himself answered Peter
Pegg's question by slowly raising his trunk, reaching out and closing it
round the new white bread, prior to curving it under and transferring it
to his mouth.

The mahout nodded and smiled at his new friend, and the elephant showed
his satisfaction by extending his trunk for more.

"You are a splendid old chap," said Pegg, breaking another piece of
bread inside his haversack and offering it to the monstrous beast, now
slowly flapping his great ears.

This was taken, and bit by bit Peter doled out another portion of the
white cake, venturing at the same time to stroke the animal's trunk.

"I'll risk it," he said. "If he tries to knock me over I can easily
jump away."

But the elephant made no sign of resentment, only transferring the piece
of bread and extending his trunk for more.

"Here you are," said Peter; "only you can't have any more goes. Wish
I'd got a dozen quarterns, though. I want to mount you, old chap, and
hang me if I know how to set about it. However, here goes; only I must
look sharp."

The next minute as the elephant's trunk was extended to him he gave it
another scrap of the bread, and followed