"Here comes somebody in a hurry," remarked Dermot, pointing to where, on the road ahead of them, a man on a pony was galloping towards them with a cloud of dust rising behind him. "Yes, it's my brother. Oh, what's happening?" she exclaimed. For as he approached his pony scented the elephant and stopped dead suddenly, nearly throwing its rider over its head. "Fred! Fred! Here I am!" she cried. But Daleham's animal was unused to elephants and positively refused to approach Badshah. In vain its rider strove to make it go on. It suddenly put an end to the dispute between them by swinging round and bolting back the way that it had come, despite its master's efforts to hold it. Noreen looked after the pair anxiously. "You needn't be alarmed, Miss Daleham," said Dermot consolingly. "Your brother is quite all right. Once he gets to a safe distance from Badshah the pony will pull up. Horses are always afraid of elephants until they get used to them. See, he is slowing up already." When the girl was satisfied that her brother was in no danger she smiled at the dramatic abruptness of his departure. "Poor Fred! He must have been awfully worried over me," she said. "He probably thought I was killed or at least had met with a bad accident. And now the poor boy can't get near me." "I daresay he was alarmed if your pony went home riderless." "Yes, it must have done so. Naughty Kitty. It must have bolted back to its stable and frightened my poor brother out of his wits." "Well, he'll soon have you back safe and sound," said Dermot. "Hold on tightly now, and I'll make Badshah step out. _Mul!_" The elephant increased his pace, and the motion sorely tried Noreen. As they passed through the estate the coolies bending over the tea-bushes stopped their work to stare at them. Noreen remarked that they appeared deeply interested at the sight of the elephant, and gathered together to talk volubly and point at it. When they neared the bungalow they saw Daleham standing on the steps of the verandah, waiting for them. He had recognised the futility of struggling with his pony and had returned with it. As they arrived he ran down the steps to meet them. "Good gracious, Noreen, what has happened to you?" he cried, as Badshah stopped in front of the house. "I've been worried to death about you. When the servants came to the factory to say that Kitty had galloped home with broken reins and without you, I thought you had been killed." "Oh, Fred, I've had such an adventure," she cried gaily. "You'll say it served me right. Wait until I get down. But how am I to do so, Major Dermot?" "The elephant will kneel down. Hold on tightly," he replied. "_Buth_, Badshah." He unslung his rifle as he dismounted. When her brother had lifted her off the pad, the girl kissed him and said: