172 The Life of an Elephant 



continued to advance talking the while, they 

 saw the trunk fall listlessly to the ground and 

 the elephant stand as if undecided what to do. 



Now the man, barely more than half the 

 height of the elephant, was alongside him, was 

 stroking his trunk and rubbing his eyes and 

 chin : he was offering him sweetmeats, which 

 the elephant was devouring ; and now, sitting 

 down in front of his brother, seemed as uncon- 

 cerned as if the beast was at home in his stable. 

 It was not long before the opium took effect 

 and Maula Bux became too dazed to carry out 

 any further mischief; and there for some days 

 he stood, again securely tethered, guarded on 

 each side by a female elephant, with his driver 

 constantly on the watch until the time arrived 

 when he could without fear be permitted to 

 be taken back to his place and to resume his 

 wonted life of good health and good humour. 



