Fortunately, the race started near the entrance, and the panic-stricken people were now scrambling recklessly, some through the wide-open gates, while others clambered up for the highest seats where they huddled together and clung to one another frantically. On the maddened animals came, with their mouths wide open and their swinging trunks sprinkling capsicum, copiously mixed with saliva, over everything. They were in a compact mass, moving with all the irresistible velocity of an avalanche, and growing more and more terrified at their own freedom. Great rivers of brine poured from their bulging eyes, while their mouths drooled as if they were on fire. The unerring instinct which distinguishes their descendants caused these forest monsters to fall into line one behind the other, as they made for the open air. Men and animals fled before them in every direction as they thundered down the valley, stampeding everything for miles around. Their trumpetings could be heard long after they were out of sight, and it was easy to track them—for they beat down a solid pathway fully a foot below the surface. Cezardis and the keepers mounted and hastened after them. After an hour’s hard riding, they were found, standing in the river industriously spouting water over their unsubmerged backs. “The heat and excitement has been too much for them,” Cezardis said, making an ineffectual attempt to stay the panic. “There is nothing to fear. It is only their idea of a frolic.” To the keepers he said, “What under the sun didst thou give the brutes?” “A gourdful of capsicum,” answered one of them. “We knew thou wert in the habit of slipping a pepper-pod in their mouths when thou wouldst have them appear lively. And,” he naïvely continued, “we knew they would be thirsty in the heat and crowd.” “It will not be safe to take them back to the pavilion. An elephant never forgets an injury, and they would probably demolish the whole place if they saw it again. Thou art sufficiently punished by being obliged to remain here on guard, while the feasting, music and dancing goes on, to-night. I shall send thee covering and food,” he promised, as he swung into the saddle and started back. The massive feet of the mammoths threw up clouds of dusty sand, thickening the air like fog, while the floor of the amphitheater looked as if it had been newly plowed. With their exodus the still terrified people rushed out of the enclosure pell-mell. They pushed and crowded through the gateways as if danger assailed them from behind. Those in the lead made great haste after they had passed out, dragging their children by the hands, while the little ones looked back over their shoulders and cried as they ran along. CHAPTER SIXTEEN THE FEASTING—THE DANCING AND THE BETROTHAL CUP