Trapped by Malays Part 21

"Only bread-cake."

"Give us a bit."

"Take the lot," said Smithers. "I don't want it. Only in the way. A drink of water will do for me."

Pegg gave him a peculiar look as he hurriedly transferred two great portions of the regimental bread to his own haversack.

"Thank you, comrade. I say--got any 'bacco?"

"Yes; but I want that."

"Never mind. Give it to me, Joe. I'll pay you with twice as much to-morrow."

Without hesitation Mrs Private Smithers's husband handed over a roll of about two ounces of tobacco.

"Thank you," said Pegg. "Now you shall see what you shall see."

Peter shouldered his rifle, marched straight up to the gaudily attired mahout, looked him up and down admiringly, pointed at his handsome turban, smiling the while as if with satisfaction, and then tapped the gilded handle of the ankus the man carried, drawing back and looking at him again.

"Well, you do look splendid," he said.

The swarthy little fellow seemed puzzled for the moment, but Peter Pegg's look of admiration was unmistakable, especially when he walked quickly round the mahout so as to see what he was like on the other side, before saying:

"Have a bit of 'bacco, comrade?"

Not a word was intelligible to the little, bandy-legged fellow, whose 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 pa.s.sed 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 sc.r.a.p of the bread, and followed this up with a few friendly touches, which the monster seemed to accept in a friendly way, before transferring the bread; the mahout looking on smilingly the while.

The trunk was raised slowly again, and the mahout uttered a few words, with the result that the private had to make a strong effort over self to keep from starting away from an expected blow; but in obedience to the driver's words the great beast slowly pa.s.sed his trunk over the young soldier's shoulders and breast, and then, grunting, swung up the end as if asking for more of the bread.

"Only two bits more," said Peter; and he turned to the mahout and made signs to him that he should mount to the elephant's neck.

The young soldier hardly expected it, but his meaning was so well conveyed that the mahout uttered a command, when the elephant pa.s.sed his trunk round the driver, swung him up, and dropped him easily into his seat, raising his ears the while, and then lowering them over the rider's knees.

"Bravo! Splendid!" cried Pegg, clapping his hands; and the next minute, after another word or two which the elephant evidently understood and obeyed, the little mahout dropped lightly down and stood smiling at his admiring audience.

It was not Peter Pegg's words, but the meaning must have been conveyed by his eyes to the mahout, for Peter said excitedly:

"There, I'd give a suvron, if I'd got one, to be able to say to our chaps that I'd had a ride on a helephant like that;" and then, to his surprise, the mahout looked at him, smiling, uttered a few words to him, and held out his hand.

"Eh? What?" cried Peter. "Let you hold my rifle? Well, I oughtn't to; but there aren't no officers near. There, I'll trust you, and I wish I could tell you what I want."

To his surprise and delight, as the mahout took hold of the rifle and examined it curiously, uttering another order to his great charge, Peter Pegg felt the great coiling trunk wrap round his waist, swing him up in the air, and drop him astride of the huge beast's neck. "Oh, but, I say, this 'ere won't do," cried Peter; "I am wrong ways on:" and scrambling up from sitting facing the howdah, he gradually reseated himself correctly, nestling his legs beneath the great half-raised ears.

"My word! ain't it nice and warm?" cried the young soldier excitedly.

"Shouldn't I like to ride round the camp now!--I say, Joe, ain't this prime?"

His comrade, who had been looking on admiringly, uttered a grunt, which was followed by an order from the mahout, resulting in the elephant reaching up his trunk, which coiled round the young soldier's waist, twitched him out of his seat, and dropped him at the driver's feet.

"Here, just a minute," panted the young soldier, thrusting his hand into his haversack and withdrawing the last bit of bread. "Here you are, old chap;" and he transferred the piece to the raised trunk, which he patted again and again before it was withdrawn.--"Thankye, comrade. You will find that prime 'bacco, and here's wishing I may see you again."

"Now, Pete," growled Smithers, for the first notes of the bugle-call rang out.

"All right. Give us my rifle, comrade. I'm off." Catching the rifle from the mahout's hand, he followed Smithers at the double; but he contrived to give one glance back at the magnificent beast upon which he had been mounted, with a strange feeling of longing for his lost seat.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

FULL REVIEW ORDER.

"Ah, there you are, Knowle!" cried the Resident, bustling up to the Major, who was marching slowly towards the parade-ground in full uniform, carrying his sword under the left arm.

"Yes, here I am. Look all right?"

"Oh yes, yes," said the Resident impatiently.

"Don't show any spots, do I?"

"Spots?"

"Yes; this confounded, hot, damp climate--specks of mildew on my best uniform. I say: you look capital, Dallas," continued the Major, running his eye over the Resident's official dress. "That's the best of you young fellows; you only want a wash and a brush up, and you are all right. Get to my age, sir, and--"

"Oh, don't talk like that, Major. I was not thinking about uniforms."

"Eh, weren't you? I was. I don't mean about myself, but look at my lads. Aren't they splendid, in spite of all the knocking about and wear? But what's the matter? Not well?"

"No, sir; I am not well."

"Poor old chap! There's plenty of time; toddle up to the bungalow. Old Morley will give you a pick-me-up, and set you right in no time."