him from every side. He raised his trunk. At once the nearest animals
extended theirs towards him. These he touched, and they in their turn
touched those of their neighbours beyond his reach. They did the same to
others farther away, and so the action was repeated and carried on
throughout the herd by all except the youngest calves.

Dermot was wondering whether this meant a greeting or a command from
Badshah, when there was a sudden stir among the animals, and soon the whole
mass was in motion. Then he saw that the elephants were moving into single
file, the formation in which they always march. Badshah alone remained
where he was.

Then the enormous gathering broke up and began to move. The oldest
elephants led; and the line commenced to defile by Badshah, who stood as if
passing them in review. As the first approached it lifted its trunk, and to
Dermot's astonishment gently touched him on the leg with it. Then it passed
on and the next animal took its place and in its turn touched the man. The
succeeding ones did the same; and thus all the elephants defiled by their
domesticated companion and touched or smelt Dermot as they went by.

Throughout the whole proceeding Badshah remained motionless, and his rider
began to believe that he had ordered his wild kindred to make themselves
acquainted with his human friend. It seemed a ridiculous idea, but the
whole proceeding was so wildly improbable that the soldier felt that
nothing could surprise him further.

As the elephants passed him he noticed on the legs of a few of them marks
which were evidently old scars of chain or rope-galls. And the forehead of
one or two showed traces of having been daubed with tar, while on the trunk
of one very large tusker was an almost obliterated ornamental design in