"My!" he muttered at last. "Suppose Mister Archie was just underneath, listening! Not he, poor chap! He'll be fast asleep," thought Peter.

"Well, there's no considering what I ought to do next. I have just got to get back and pick up that there spear. Mr Sentry will never think it's gone through, and if to-morrow he comes to look for it, he will think that there monkey has carried it away sticking in his back. Phew!

My leg smarts; and that ain't the worst of it. I have got to get up to the ridge here, and down the other side to where I crept out; and that's where there's snakes."

It took a little resolution when the lad had reached the loose portion of the mat, and he hesitated and kicked about a bit, to scare any enemy away, before raising the mat, pa.s.sing his legs through, and lowering himself partly down.

A few minutes later he was holding on with one arm, having wedged his toes into the side of the stable wall, while he carefully drew back the thatch into its place.

Directly after, he stood listening amongst the rustling palm-leaves, then crept to Archie's side, to hear him breathing heavily, fast asleep; and then, after refreshing himself with a draught of water, he began to search for the fallen spear. This he pa.s.sed several times before he found it sticking upright in the floor, gave it a hug of delight, and was about to carry it to thrust it in beside its fellow, when he paused.

"That means if they find one they will find t'other," he said to himself, "so that won't do."

This thought resulted in his finding another hiding-place for his newly acquired treasure.

"We are getting on," he said in a satisfied way--"only got to smug a couple of krises, and there we are. I say, my leg smarts, and I should like to have a look at it; but I won't light a match, because it would be risky in amongst these leaves--and I ain't got one. Well, that will do for to-night, so good-night. I am beginning to think I am tired."

Before five minutes had elapsed Peter Pegg proved the truth of his a.s.sertion by the utterance of a very regular snore, which kept time with his breath till broad daylight, when he started up.

"_Reveille_, comrade!" he cried aloud; and then, "Blest if it ain't that helephant again!"

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

MORE ABOUT A FRIEND.

"All right, old man," cried Peter Pegg, as he sprang up and crossed to the door, where his visitor was chuntering, as the lad called it, and making a succession of peculiar snorts as he waved his trunk up and down. "What's the matter? Want some breakfast?" And after a moment's hesitation he stretched out his hand and began to stroke the great, prehensile organ that was now pa.s.sed over his shoulders and down his sides. "You won't hurt me, will you, old chap? That'll do. Steady, and I will get you some breakfast."

The quiet, soothing tone of the lad's voice seemed to convey his meaning, for the elephant curved the end of his trunk right upwards and began to trumpet.

"Hear that, Mister Archie?" cried Peter, as he made for where the fruit-basket stood.

"Yes," replied the subaltern, raising himself slowly and painfully. "Is anything the matter?"

"No, sir; only my friend come to see us."

"Your friend?" said Archie wonderingly.

"Yes, sir; the helephant. Can't you see him?"

"No," said Archie. "Oh yes, I can see its trunk."

"That's right, sir; come for some breakfast;" and the young private strode back, breaking up the cake and placing a goodly piece within reach of the extended trunk, for it to be taken and disappear through the opening, when the trunk quickly returned ready for more.

The business was repeated again and again, and the pieces of bread were followed by bananas and a fair-sized vegetable which might have been either pumpkin or melon.

The trunk curled round it directly, but this proved too great in diameter to pa.s.s altogether through the hole, dropping from the trunk and being dashed at by its donor.

"Well caught!" cried Peter. "You must wait a minute, old chap," he continued, pulling out his knife, with which he divided the small pumpkin in four, each portion being quietly taken and drawn through, to disappear in the monster's cavernous interior, to be followed by several more bananas, Peter dealing out his gifts deliberately so as to make more of what in its entirety was a mere snack for the visitor.

"There," he cried at last; "that's all you'll get, so you had better toddle."

_Hoomph_! grunted the elephant.

"What do you mean by that?"

_Phoonk_! came in a hollow-sounding grunt.

"Oh, why didn't you speak plain? Want water, do you? Can't spare any.

My young governor wants a good wash. Go on down to the river. There's plenty there. Good old chap," he continued, softly stroking the trunk; and after a low, muttering sound the elephant submitted to the caresses, and then began to respond.

"Take care, Pete!" said Archie in a low whisper.

"All right, sir. He knows me."

"But he may turn spiteful. A blow from an elephant's trunk would dash you across the place."

"Oh, he isn't going to dash me--are you, old man?"

"Take care!" whispered Archie hoa.r.s.ely, for the great serpentine trunk glided completely round Peter and drew him close up to the hole, raising him from the ground, so that he hung three or four feet above the dried leaves.

"Ah-h!" sighed Archie, with an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of relief, as the elephant lowered the lad again and withdrew his trunk through the hole, and the two young men heard the soft movements of his huge, yielding feet as he slowly shuffled off, making a deep, low, muttering sound.

"There, Mister Archie, what do you think of that?"

"Think!" said the lad excitedly. "I was afraid the brute would crush you to death."

"Not he, sir. Didn't you see what friends we were?"

"Oh yes; but they are dangerous friends."

"He isn't going to be dangerous to us, sir. I am glad you woke up. I wanted you to see him; and now you know how easy it will be for us to escape. Once I get you on his back, he will take us to camp as easy as you please."

"Yes, once we are on his back," sighed Archie. "But how's that to be managed?"

"Oh, you want your breakfast, sir. You've got the dismal empties bad.

Now, what do you say--a cup of water and a bit of bread to soak in it, or shall I give you a wash first?"

"A wash! Oh Pete, if you could only bathe that place on my head first, I feel as if it would be so refreshing."

"All right, sir. Plenty of water. That's why I wouldn't give any to the helephant. You've got a handkerchy, and I shall have to trouble you for that there tie as well; that silky thing will do to bathe the place nicely, and the handkerchy to dry you with.--No, it won't. I never thought of that."

"Oh yes, take them," said Archie eagerly. "The tie will soon dry again."

"Yes, I know that, sir; but your puggaree would have been better, only you lost that along with your cap."

"Never mind. Make haste; the place is so hot and stiff."

"Yes, sir, I know; but the wash must come last."