"Listen!" she said excitedly. "I had horses here, there, everywhere in
case of need. But Gungadhura sent men and took them all. Now I
have only one horse--in your stable--I must get that tonight. First, then,
drive my women to a place that I will show you."

Away in the distance they could hear the trumpeting of Akbar, and the
shouts of men who had been turned out to attempt the hopeless task
of capturing the brute. At each scream the horse trembled in the shafts
and had to be managed skillfully, but the load was too heavy now for
him to run away with it.

"If that elephant will continue to be our friend and will only run the other
way for a distraction, so that we are not seen, one of these days I will
give him a golden howdah!" vowed Yasmini.

And Akbar did that very thing. Whoever was awake that night in Sialpore,
and was daring enough to venture in the dark streets, followed the line
of destruction and excitement, gloating over the broken property of
enemies or awakening friends to make them miserable with condolences.
The dog-cart threaded through the streets unseen, for even the scarce
night-watchmen left their posts to take part in the hunt.

Yasmini guided them to the outskirts of the town in a line as nearly straight
as the congenital deviousness of Sialpore's ancient architects allowed.
There was not a street but turned a dozen times to the mile. At one
point she bade Dick stop, and begged Tess to let Tom Tripe take her
home, promising to see her again within the hour. But Tess had recovered
her nerve and was determined to see the adventure through, in spite
of the discomforts of a seat behind Tom's military saddle.