“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: 

“I’m so glad to get back to you, dear.  I thought I never would.  I know you’ll crow over me and and say, ‘I told you so.’  But I must introduce you to Major Dermot.  This is my brother, Major.  Fred, if it had not been for Major Dermot, you wouldn’t have a sister now.  Just listen.”

The men shook hands as she began her story.  Her brother interrupted her to suggest their going on to the verandah to get out of the sun.  When they were all seated he listened with the deepest interest.

At the end of her narrative he could not help saying: 

“I warned you, young woman.  What on earth would have happened to you if Major Dermot had not been there?” He turned to their visitor and continued:  “I must thank you awfully, sir.  There’s no doubt that Noreen would have been killed without your help.”

“Oh, perhaps not.  But certainly you were right in advising her not to enter the forest alone.”

“There, you see, Noreen?”

The girl pouted a little.

“Is it really so dangerous, Major Dermot?” she asked.

“Well, one ought never to go into it without a good rifle,” he replied.  “You might pass weeks, months, in it without any harm befalling you; but on the other hand you might be exposed to the greatest danger on your very first day in it.  You’ve just had a sample.”

“You were attacked yourself by a rogue, weren’t you?” asked the girl.  “You said that your elephant saved you?  Was this the one?  Do tell us about it.”