The Adventures of Kathlyn

In reality, Rajah, freed of his unwelcome mahout, had legged it down

the road without so much as trumpeting his farewell, and the soldiers

had not been able to stop him.

How she had managed to get down would always remain a mystery to her.

Food and water, food and water; in her present state she must have both

or die. Let them send her back to Allaha; she was beaten; she was

without the will to resist further. All she wanted was food and water

and sleep, sleep. After that they might do what they pleased with her.

For the first time since the extraordinary flight from Allaha Kathlyn

recollected the "elephant talk" which Ahmed had taught her. She rose

wearily and walked toward Rajah, who cocked his ears at the sound of

her approach. She talked to him for a space in monotone. She held out

her hands; the dry raspy trunk curled out toward them. Rajah was

evidently willing to meet her half-way. She ordered him to kneel.

Without even pausing to think it over Rajah bent his calloused knees,

and gratefully Kathlyn crawled back into the howdah. Food and water:

these appeared at hand as if by magic. So she ate and drank. If she

could hold Rajah to a walk the howdah would last at least till she came

to some village.

Later, in the moonshine, she espied the ruined portico of a temple.