"At once," said Brace. "Yes; what is it?" he cried, as Dost once more made his appearance, this time to announce that he had found the stables of the rajah's elephants--three huge beasts, with their howdahs, pads, and mahouts. "We don't want them now," said Haynes. "No time for tigers." "We do want them now," said Brace, eagerly. "They will carry a quantity of provisions, and one of them can take Sergeant Craig as well. It will be better than pressing bearers into our service, more than we absolutely want for grass-cutters. We must keep our train as small as possible now." So the elephants were brought out, and the mahouts duly admonished upon the dangers they would run if they attempted any treachery. Loads were adjusted, and just at midday, when the sun was hottest, our little column was set in motion, and we marched out of the little town that we had watched so intently, hardly able to realise how successful we had been. There were plenty of people about, old men and boys, and there was a sullen, lowering look in their amber eyes as we rode by, but no voice was raised against us, so wholesome a dread had they of the guns, of whose power they had all more or less heard--a power which might at any moment be directed against their homes. To the delight of all, the horses proved to be in admirable condition, and in their excitement and glee, the men never seemed to trouble about the heat, but rode on, chatting together and discussing the morning's feat and the value of the long, careful drilling, whose results had been shown in the way in which the horses had behaved. The road was dusty, but fairly good; and as the three elephants shuffled slowly along, I ventured to approach the one which bore Craig, time after time, but generally to find that he was sleeping, and upon calling the doctor's attention to the fact, he said abruptly-- "Best thing for him. Nature goes on best with her mending when a man is asleep. Phew! how hot it is." "Worse walking," I said. "Yes. Thank goodness, we are all well-mounted again. What a fish out of water one does feel without a horse." We were not destined to reach Rajgunge without adventure, for that same evening we were thinking it time for a halt when the advance-guard galloped back to announce the coming of what seemed to be a regiment of native lancers.