behind which, under a thatched roof, were tethered some of the maharajah's
elephants. There were two windows in the wall, through which one
could see dimly the great brutes' rumps as they swayed at their pickets
restlessly. The smell came through a broken pane, and every once in
a while the Blaines' horse, standing ready in the shafts outside with a
blanket over him, squealed at it indignantly.

Tom's horse dozed in the rough shed, being used to elephants.

Dick got up once or twice to peer through the window at the brutes.

"Are they tethered fore and aft?" he wondered.

"No," Tom answered. "One hind foot only."

"What's to stop them from turning round and breaking down this rotten wall?"

"Nothing--except that they're elephants. They could break their picket
chains if they were minded to, same as I could break Gungadhura's
head and lose my job. But I won't do it, and nor will they. They're
elephants, and I'm a soldier. The trouble with you is nerves, my boy.
Have some brandy. You're worried about your wife, but I tell you she's
right as a trivet. I'd trust my last chance with that little princess. I've
done it often. Brandy's the stuff to keep your hair on. Have some."

The bottle had only been three parts full. Tom poured out the last of
it and set a stone jorum of rum in readiness on the table over against the wall.

"Wish we had hot water handy," he grumbled.