's waist, he was drawn out of his sister's
arms; and then the great beast stood swinging the child to and fro, now
up a little way, now down between his legs, and him crowing and laughing
away all the while, as if it was the best fun that could be.

I believe we were all struck motionless; and it was like taking a hand
away from my throat to let me breathe once more, when I saw the elephant
gently drop the little fellow down on a heap of hay, but only for him to
scramble up, and run forward shouting: "Now 'gain, now 'gain;" and, as
if _Nabob_ understood his little prattling, half-tied tongue, he takes
him up again, and swings him, just as there was a regular rush made, and
Mrs Colonel, Miss Ross, Lizzy, and the captain and lieutenant came up.

"For Heaven's sake, save the child!" cries Mrs Maine.--"Mr Leigh,
pray, do something."

Miss Ross did not speak, but she looked at Captain Dyer; and those two
young men both went at the elephant directly, to get the child away; but
in an instant _Nabob_ wheeled round, just the same as a stubborn donkey
would at home with a lot of boys teasing it; and then, as they dodged
round his great carcass, he trumpeted fiercely, and began to shuffle off
round the court.

I went up too, and so did Mrs Bantem, brave as a lion; but the great
beast only kept on making his loud snorting noise, and shuffled along,
with the boy in his trunk, swinging him backwards and forwards; and it
was impossible to help thinking of what would be the consequence if the
elephant should drop the little fellow, and then set on him one of his
great feet.

It seemed as if nothing could be done, and once the idea--wild enough
too--rushed into my head that it would be advisable to get a rifle put
to the great beast's ear, and fire, when Measles shouted out from where
he was on guard, "Here's Chunder coming!" and, directly after, with his
opal eyeballs rolling, and his dark, treacherous-looking face seeming to
me all wicked and pleased at what was going on, came the mahout, and
said a few words to the elephant, which stopped directly, and went down
upon its knees. Chunder then tried to take hold of the child, but
somehow that seemed to make the great beast furious, and getting up
again, he began to grunt and make a noise after the fashion of a great
pig, going on now faster round the court, and sending those who had come
to look, and who stood in his way, fleeing in all directions.

Mrs Maine was half fainting, a