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Mr Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty； after searching the village from end to end； came back without having found anything。
‘I shall go afoot；' said Phileas Fogg。
Passepartout； who had now rejoined his master； made a wry grimace； as he thought of his magnificent； but too frail Indian shoes。 Happily he too had been looking about him； and； after a moment's hesitation； said； ‘Monsieur； I think I have found a means of conveyance。'
‘What？'
‘An elephant！ An elephant that belongs to an Indian who lives but a hundred steps from here。'
‘Let's go and see the elephant；' replied Mr Fogg。
They soon reached a small hut； near which； enclosed within some high Palings； was the animal in question。 An Indian came out of the hut； and； at their request； conducted them within the enclosure。 The elephant； which its owner had reared； not for a beast of burden； but for warlike purposes； was hall domesticated。 The Indian had begun already； by often irritating him； and feeding him every three months on sugar and butter； to impart to him a ferocity not in his nature； this method being often employed by those who train the Indian elephants for battle。 Happily； how ever； for Mr Fogg； the animal's instruction in this direction had not gone far； and the elephant still preserved his natural gentleness。 Kiouni … this was the name of the beast … could doubtless travel rapidly for a long time； and； in default of any other means of Conveyance； Mr Fogg resolved to hire him。 But elephants are far from cheap in India； where they are becoming scarce； the males； which alone are suitable for circus shows； are much sought； especially as but few of them are domesticated。 When； therefore； Mr Fogg proposed to the Indian to hire Kiouni； he refused point…blank。 Mr Fogg persisted； offering the excessive sum of ten pounds an hour for the loan of the beast to Allahabad。 Refused。 Twenty pounds？ Refused also。 Forty pounds？ Still refused。 Passepartout jumped at each advance； but the Indian declined to be tempted。 Yet the offer was an alluring one； for； supposing it took the elephant fifteen hours to reach Allahabad； his owner would receive no less than six hundred pounds sterling。
Phileas Fogg； without getting in the least flurried； then proposed to purchase the animal outright； and at first offered a thousand pounds for him。 The Indian； perhaps thinking he was going to make a great bargain； still refused。
Sir Francis Cromarty took Mr Fogg aside； and begged him to reflect before he went any further； to which that gentleman replied that he was not in the habit of acting rashly； that a bet of twenty thousand pounds was at stake； that the elephant was absolutely necessary to him； and that he would secure him if he had to pay twenty times his value。 Returning to the Indian； whose small； sharp eyes； glistening with avarice； betrayed that with him it was only a question of how great a price he could obtain； Mr Fogg offered first twelve hundred； then fifteen hundred； eighteen hundred； two thousand pounds。 Passepartout； usually so rubicund； was fairly white with suspense。
At two thousand pounds the Indian yielded。
‘What a price； good heaven！' cried Passepartout； ‘for an elephant！'
It only remained now to find a guide； which was comparatively easy。 A young Parsee； with an intelligent face； offered his services； which Mr Fogg accepted； promising so generous a reward as to materially stimulate his zeal。 The elephant was led out and equipped。 The Parsee； who was an accomplished elephant driver； covered his back with a sort of saddle…cloth； and attached to each of his flanks some curiously uncomfortable howdahs。
Phileas Fogg paid the Indian with some bank…notes which he extracted from the famous carpet…bag； a proceeding that seemed to deprive poor Passepartout of his vitals。 Then he offered to carry Sir Francis to Allahabad； which the brigadier gratefully accepted； as one traveller the more would not be likely to fatigue the gigantic beast。 Provisions were purchased at Kholby； and while Sir Francis and Mr Fogg took the howdahs on either side； Passepartout got astride the saddle…cloth between them。 The Parsee perched himself on the elephant's neck； and at nine o'clock they set out from the village； the animal marching off through the dense forest of palms by the shortest cut。
CHAPTER XII
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AND HIS COMPANIONS VENTURE ACROSS THE INDIAN FORESTS； AND WHAT ENSUED。
In order to shorten the journey； the guide passed to the left of the line where the railway was still in process of being built。 This lined owing to the capricious turnings of the Vindhia Mountains； did not pursue a straight course。 The Parsee； who was quite familiar with the roads and paths in the district； declared that they would gain twenty miles by striking directly through the forest。
Phileas Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty plunged to the neck in the peculiar howdahs provided for theme were horribly jostled by the swift trotting of the elephant； spurred on as he was by the skilful Parsee； but they endured the discomfort with true British phlegm； talking little； and scarcely able to catch a glimpse of each other。 As for Passepartout； who was mounted on the beast's back； and received the direct force of each concussion as he trod along； he was very careful； in accordance with his master's advice； to keep his tongue from between his teeth； as it would other have been bitten off short。 The worthy fellow bounced from the elephant's neck to his rump； and vaulted like a clown on a spring…board； yet he laughed in the midst of his bouncing； and from time to time took a piece of sugar out of his pocket； and inserted it in Kiouni's trunks who received it without in the least slackening his regular trot。
After two hours the guide stopped the elephant； and gave him an hour for rest； during which Kiouni； after quenching his thirst at a neighbouring spring； set to devouring the branches and shrubs round about him。 Neither Sir Francis nor Mr Fogg regretted the delay； and both descended with a feeling of relief。 ‘Why； he's made of iron！' exclaimed the general； gazing admiringly on Kiouni。
‘Of … forged iron；' replied Passepartout； as he set about preparing a hasty breakfast。
At noon the Parsee gave the signal of departure。
The country soon presented a very savage aspect。 Copses of dates and dwarf…palms succeeded the dense forests； then vast； dry plains； dotted with scanty shrubs； and sown with great blocks of syenite。 All this portion of Bundelcund； which is little frequented by travellers； is inhabited by a fanatical population； hardened in the most horrible practices of the Hindoo faith。 The English have not been able to secure complete dominion over this territory； which is subjected to the influence of rajahs； whom it is almost impossible to reach in their inaccessible mountain fastnesses。 The travellers several times saw bands of ferocious Indians； who； when they perceived the elephant striding across country； made angry and threatening motions。 The Parsee avoided them as much as possible。 Few animals were observed on the route； even the monkeys hurried from their path with contortions and grimaces which convulsed Passepartout with laughter。
In the midst of his gaiety； however； one thought t