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Presently； however； by a cursed spite of fate； one of these gustsa
very little onecame from some quarter behind us； for I felt it in my
back hair； that was as damp as the rest of me。 Just then I was
glancing to my right； where it seemed to me that out of the corner of
my eye I had caught sight of something passing among the stones at a
distance of a hundred yards or so； possibly the shadow of a cloud or
another elephant。 At the time I did not ascertain which it was； since
a faint rattle from Jana's trunk reconcentrated all my faculties on
him in a painfully vivid fashion。
I looked to see that all the contemplation had departed from his
attitude； now as alert as that of a fox…terrier which imagines he has
seen a rat。 His vast ears were cocked； his huge bulk trembled； his
enormous trunk sniffed the air。
〃Great Heavens！〃 thought I to myself； 〃he has winded us！〃 Then I took
such consolation as I could from the fact that the next gust once more
struck upon my forehead； for I hoped he would conclude that he had
made a mistake。
Not a bit of it！ Jana as far too old a birdor beastto make any
mistake。 He grunted； got himself going like a luggage train； and with
great deliberation walked towards us； smelling at the ground； smelling
at the air； smelling to the right； to the left； and even towards
heaven above； as though he expected that thence might fall upon him
vengeance for his many sins。 A dozen times as he came did I cover him
with an imaginary rifle； marking the exact spots where I might have
hoped to send a bullet to his vitals； in a kind of automatic fashion；
for all my real brain was contemplating my own approaching end。
I wondered how it would happen。 Would he drive that great tusk through
me； would he throw me into the air； or would he kneel upon my poor
little body； and avenge the deaths of his kin that had fallen at my
hands？ Mar？t was speaking in a rattling whisper：
〃His priests have told Jana to kill us； we are about to die；〃 he said。
〃Before I die I want to say that the lady； the wife of the lord〃
〃Silence！〃 I hissed。 〃He will hear you；〃 for at that instant I took
not the slightest interest in any lady on the earth。 Fiercely I glared
at Mar？t and noted even then how pitiful was his countenance。 There
was no smile there now。 All its jovial roundness had vanished。 It had
sunk in； it was blue and ghastly with large； protruding eyes； like to
that of a man who had been three days dead。
I was rightJana /had/ heard。 Low as the whisper was； through that
intense silence it had penetrated to his almost preternatural senses。
Forward he came at a run for twenty paces or more with his trunk held
straight out in front of him。 Then he halted again； perhaps the length
of a cricket pitch away； and smelt as before。
The sight was too much for Mar？t。 He sprang up and ran for his life
towards the lake； purposing； I suppose； to take refuge in the water。
Oh！ how he ran。 After him went Jana like a railway engineexpress
this timetrumpeting as he charged。 Mar？t reached the lake； which was
quite close； about ten yards ahead； and plunging into it with a bound；
began to swim。
Now； I thought； he may get away if the crocodiles don't have him； for
that devil will scarcely take to the water。 But this was just where I
made a mistake； for with a mighty splash in went Jana too。 Also he was
the better swimmer。 Mar？t soon saw this and swung round to the shore；
by which man？uvre he gained a little as he could turn quicker than
Jana。
Back they came； Jana just behind Mar？t； striking at him with his great
trunk。 They landed； Mar？t flew a few yards ahead doubling in and out
among the rocks like a hare and； to my horror； making for where I lay；
whether by accident or in a mad hope of obtaining protection； I do not
know。
It may be asked why I had not taken the opportunity to run also in the
opposite direction。 There are several answers。 The first was that
there seemed to be nowhere to run； the second； that I felt sure； if I
did run； I should trip up over the skeletons of those elephants or the
stones； the third； that I did not think of it at once； the fourth；
that Jana had not yet seen me； and I had no craving to introduce
myself to him personally； and the fifth and greatest； that I was so
paralysed with fear that I did not feel as though I could lift myself
from the ground。 Everything about me seemed to be dead； except my
powers of observation； which were painfully alive。
Of a sudden Mar？t gave up。 Less than a stone's throw from me he
wheeled round and； facing Jana； hurled at him some fearful and
concentrated curse； of which all that I could distinguish were the
words： 〃The Child！〃
Oddly enough it seemed to have an effect upon the furious rogue； which
halted in its rush and； putting its four feet together； slid a few
paces nearer and stood still。 It was just as though the beast had
understood the words and were considering them。 If so； their effect
was to rouse him to perfect madness。 He screamed terribly； he lashed
his sides with his trunk； his red and wicked eyes rolled； foam flew
from the cavern of his open mouth； he danced upon his great feet； a
sort of hideous Scottish reel。 Then he charged！
I shut my eyes for a moment。 When I opened them again it was to see
poor Mar？t higher in the air than ever he flew before。 I thought that
he would never come down； but he did at last with an awesome thud。
Jana went to him and very gently； now that he was dead； picked him up
in his trunk。 I prayed that he might carry him away to some hiding…
place and leave me in peace。 But not so。 With slow and stately
strides； rocking the deceased Mar？t up and down in his trunk； as a
nurse might rock a baby； he marched on to the very stone where I lay；
behind which I suppose he had seen or smelt me all the time。
For quite a long while； it seemed more than a century； he stood over
me； studying me as though I interested him very much； the water of the
lake trickling in a refreshing stream from his great ears on to my
back。 Had it not been for that water I think I should have fainted；
but as it was I did the next best thingpretended to be dead。 Perhaps
this monster would scorn to touch a dead man。 Watching out of the
corner of my eye； I saw him lift one vast paw that was the size of an
arm…chair and hold it over me。
Now good…bye to the world； thought I。 Then the foot descended as a
steam…hammer does； but also as a steam…hammer sometimes does when used
to crack nuts； stopped as it touched my back； and presently came to
earth again alongside of me； perhaps because Jana thought the foothold
dangerous。 At any rate； he took another and better way。 Depositing the
remains of Mar？t with the most tender care beside me； as though the
nurse were putting the child to bed； he unwound his yards of trunk and
began to feel me all over with its tip； commencing at the back of my
neck。 Oh！ the sensation of that clammy； wriggling