CHAPTER X
GANESA
The sun was shining now, and dried us with its warmth. We were saved.And this joy compensated for all the sufferings we had endured.
The Prince dismounted; standing before me, he gazed gratefully upon me.
"Had it not been for thee," he said, "at this moment my head would berolling in blood!
"During our flight our safety depended on each moment as it passed--notan instant could be spared--and I have only been able to thank theein my heart. But now, before this shining Sun, I desire to expressthe feelings that thy devotion, thy heroism, have inspired in me. Oh!Iravata, had it pot been for thee, Saphire-of-Heaven, in robes ofmourning, would have wept my death; without thee I should never havelived to behold my child! My name would have been dishonoured by adisgraceful death, my Kingdom conquered and ravaged--whereas, my lifebeing saved, all can be regained. And this I owe to a being whom mendeem inferior to themselves! Ah! the Princess of Siam was right. It isindeed a Royal Soul that is hidden in thy rough body!"
I was greatly embarrassed by so much praise: and I could not makeit understood that if I had a "Soul," it was simply a good, plain,elephant soul--all full of affection for him who had been the first totreat me as a friend.
He stroked me softly with his hand, and gazing at me smiled kindly;while I by all the means in my power--flapping my ears--snorting--andshuffling my feet, expressed my delight.
"I swear to you," said the Prince, "that hereafter you shall always betreated as an equal, and looked upon as my best friend!...
"But let us move on; our enemies may return in force, now that myescape must be known to all."
We descended a steep hill, parallel with the waterfall, and foundourselves in a beautiful fertile plain, through which the river, growntranquil and shallow, ran gently over a bed of rocks and pebbles. Iwas able to wade across with ease a short distance below the cataract,which fell, scattering itself in snowy foam, which the sunlight filledwith sparkling rainbows. Here was the leap we had so nearly taken! Onecould but tremble to look at it, in spite of the loveliness with whichNature had adorned it.
I looked for the horseman who had been dashed to pieces there, but nota trace of him was left.
When we reached the other side we found the plain covered with freshgrass, growing in thick tufts. My Master told me to eat.
"See! there is a fine meal for you," said he, "which you should takeadvantage of at once. I am sorry that I cannot, like you, breakfast ongreen bushes!... For it is a long time since I have tasted food!"
But how could I eat when he was suffering the pangs of hunger? Icontinued on my way, as though I had not heard.
"I understand you well, Iravata," said the Prince. "You are refusing toeat because I am compelled to go fasting. But this will not do. I knowthe requirements of your vast stomach--those of men are more patient!"
I was above all tortured with thirst, and I drank my fill from theriver.
"_Eat_", Iravata--"your stomach being empty will not fill mine!"
I pulled off here and there bunches of leaves and grass, but withoutstopping. I looked everywhere for signs of some houses or villages.
"That is useless," said the Prince, who devined my thoughts. "Theyrobbed me of all I had, and did not leave me a diamond, or a rupee;and I am not yet so vanquished by misfortune as to be willing to beg!I have only succeeded in saving my royal Signet. The idea came to meto remove from my finger the ring on which it is engraved, and concealit in my mouth. But I cannot barter this Seal, which will serve toidentify me, for the sake of food. I must wait till we find people whoare capable of understanding the significance of my ring, and who willfurnish me with the means of reaching my Kingdom."
My Master was right. He could not sell his ring.
I hurried my steps to get out of this detestable prairie, which seemedto have no end. But though I travelled on and on, the same fresh grassand herbage surrounded us, with from time to time a few tall treeswhich bore no fruit; and not a sign of any human habitation was to beseen.
The Prince had gathered some large leaves with which to cover his head,and protect it from the burning rays of noon, and had also placed someon mine, knowing how the heat distresses us.
Some cultivated fields now appeared, and presently a group of giantbamboos, and in their midst an edifice of stone, in the form of abee-hive.
"It is a Shrine," said Alemguir. "Let us not fail to render homage tothe God it shelters, who meets us thus on our way, before going anyfurther. Our prayers finished it will be well to rest ourselves in theshade of the trees."
What a surprise when I stood before the entrance of the Chapel! Thestone God which appeared in the depths on a dais of velvet was a Manwith the head of an Elephant!
"Ganesa! the God of Wisdom!" cried the Prince. "It is no chance thathas brought us here before Him, to whom more than to all the others Ishould offer thanks!"
He knelt at the foot of the altar and prayed in a low voice. Duringthis time I, who could not enter the small and narrow building,examined this strange God, who on the body of a Man bore a head likemine, and held the tip of his trunk in his right hand!
I could see the upper part of the altar which was hidden from myMaster, being above his head. There were fresh offerings in plates andbowls--Oh! joy! Cakes, melted butter, and various fruits--enough tofeed a man for three days!
My trunk reached the Altar. As the Prince finished his prayers Iplaced, one after another, the plates and dishes before him.
"Offerings!" cried he. "Certainly I would not venture to take themnotwithstanding my extreme need; but offered by _thee_ I may notrefuse; it seems as if the God himself bestowed them on me.... Andperhaps thou art, thyself, _Ganesa_!"
I was not "Ganesa" but a very happy elephant. My Master ate; and theregrew in this place all sorts of grasses and plants that were quite tomy taste.
We slept during the hot hours of the day; and later we reached aninhabited place, which was evidently near, judging from the freshofferings, and also from the odours which my acute sense of smelldetected in the air.
It all seemed delicious, after what we had endured; and if it was,indeed, Ganesa who had helped us out of all our troubles, as the Princeseemed to think, I felt disposed to thank him most devoutly--andeven to pray to him daily. For if it is possible for us to have aGod--certainly it is Ganesa who should be the God of all Elephants....