The Elephant God

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE PALACE OF DEATH

  When they reached the door of the police officer's apartment Dermot wishedhim good-night and proceeded down the passage, which was lit only by afeeble lamp placed in a niche high up in the wall. He had to grope his waythrough the outer chambers by the aid of matches, and when he reached hisroom, was surprised to find it in darkness, for he had left a light burningin it. He struck more matches, and was annoyed to discover that his lamphad been taken away. Being very tired he felt inclined to undress and go tobed in the dark, but, suddenly remembering the small light in the passage,determined to fetch it. Making his way back to the passage he tried to takethe little lamp down. But it was too high up, and the noise that he made inhis efforts to reach it brought Barclay to his door.

  When he heard of Dermot's difficulty he said:

  "I'm not sleepy yet, Major, so I'll bring my lamp along to your room andsmoke a cheroot while you undress. Then I'll go off with it as soon asyou've turned in."

  Dermot thanked him, and the young policeman went with him, carrying thelamp, which had a double wick and gave a good light. Putting it down on thedressing-table he lit a cheroot and proceeded to seat himself in a chairbeside the bed. Like the room itself and the rest of the furniture, it wascovered with dust.

  "By George, what dirty quarters they've given you, sir," he exclaimed."Just look at the floor. I'll bet it's never been swept since the Palacewas built. The dust is an inch deep near the bed." He polished the seat ofthe chair carefully before he sat down.

  The heat in the room was stifling, and the police officer, even in hiswhite mess uniform, felt it acutely.

  "By Jove, it's steamy tonight," he remarked, wiping his face.

  "Yes, I hate October," replied Dermot. "It's the worst month in the year, Ithink. Its damp heat, when the rain is drying up out of the ground, is moretrying than the worst scorching we get in May and June."

  "Well, you don't seem to find it too hot, Major," said the other laughing."It looks as if you'd got a hot-water bottle in the foot of your bed."

  "Hot-water bottle? What do you mean?" asked Dermot in surprise, throwingthe collar that he had just taken off on to the dressing-table and turninground.

  "Why, don't you see? Under the clothes at the foot," said his companion,pointing with the Major's cane to a bulge in the thin blanket and sheetcovering the bed. He got up and strode across to it. "What on earth haveyou got there? It does look--Oh, good heavens, keep back!" he criedsuddenly.

  Dermot was already bending over the bed, but the police officer pushed himforcibly back and snatched up the cane which he had laid down. Then,cautiously seizing the top of the blanket and sheet near the pillow, hewhisked them off with a sudden vigorous jerk. At the spot where the bulgehad betrayed it a black cobra, one of the deadliest snakes in India, liftedits head and a foot of its length from its shining coils. The forked tonguedarted and quivered incessantly, and the unwinking eyes glistened as with aloud hiss it raised itself higher and poised its head to strike.

  Barclay struck it sharply with the cane, and it fell writhing on the bed,its spine broken. The coils wound and unwound vigorously, the tailconvulsively lashing the sheet. He raised the stick to strike it again,but, paused with arm uplifted, for the snake could not move away or raiseits head.

  Seeing that it was powerless the young Superintendent swung round toDermot.

  "Have you a pistol, Major?" he whispered.

  Without a word the soldier unlocked his despatch-box and took out a smallautomatic.

  "Loaded?"

  The soldier nodded.

  "Give it to me."

  Taking the weapon he tiptoed to the door, listened awhile, then opened itsharply. But there was no one there.

  "Bring the lamp," he whispered.

  Dermot complied, and together they searched the ante-rooms and passages.They were empty. Then they looked into the small room in which the zincbath-tub stood. There was no one there.

  The Deputy Superintendent closed the door again, and, as it had neitherlock nor bolt, placed a heavy chair against it. Taking the lamp in his handhe bent down and carefully examined the dusty floor under and around thebed. Then he put down the lamp and drew Dermot into the centre of the room.

  "Has your servant any reason to dislike you?" he asked in a low voice.

  Dermot answered him in the same tone:

  "I have not brought one with me."

  The D.S.P. whistled faintly, then looked apprehensively round the room andwhispered:

  "Have you any enemies in the Palace or in Lalpuri?"

  Dermot smiled.

  "Very probably," he replied. Then in a low voice he continued: "Look here,Barclay, do you know anything of the state of affairs in this province? Imean, politically."

  The police officer nodded.

  "I do. I'm here in Lalpuri to try to find out things. The root of thetrouble in Bengal is here."

  "Then I can tell you that I have been sent on a special mission to theborder and have come to this city to try to follow up a clue."

  The D.S.P. drew a deep breath.

  "That accounts for it. Look here, Major, I've seen this trick with thesnake before. Not long ago I tried to hang the servant of a rich _bunniah_for murdering his master by means of it, but the Sessions Judge wouldn'tconvict him. If you look you'll see that that brute"--he pointed to thecobra writhing in agony on the bed and sinking its fangs into its ownflesh--"never got up there by itself. It was put there. Otherwise it wouldhave left a clear trail in the thick dust on the floor, but there isn't asign."

  "Yes, I spotted that," said Dermot, lighting a cigarette over the lampchimney. "I see the game. My lamp--which was here, for I dressed for dinnerby its light--was taken away, so that I'd have to go to bed in the dark;and, by Jove, I very nearly did! Then I'd have kicked against the cobra asI got in, and been bitten. The lamp would have been put back in the morningbefore I was 'found.' Look here, Barclay, I owe you a lot. Without you I'dbe dead in two hours."

  "Or less. Sometimes the bite is fatal in forty minutes. Yes, there's nodoubt of it, you'd have been done for. Lucky thing I hadn't gone to bed andheard you. Now, what'll we do with the brute?"

  He looked at the writhing snake.

  "Wait a minute. Where are the matches?"

  He picked up a box from the dressing-table, moved the chair from the doorand left the room. In a minute or two he returned, carrying an oldporcelain vase, and shut the door.

  "I found this stuck away with a lot of rubbish in the outer room," he said."I don't suppose any one will miss it."

  Dermot watched him with curiosity as he placed the vase on the floor nearthe bed and picked up the cane. Putting its point under the cobra he liftedthe wriggling body on the stick and with some difficulty dropped the snakeinto the vase, where they heard its head striking the sides with furiousblows.

  "I hope it won't break the damned thing just when I'm carrying it," hesaid, regarding the vase anxiously.

  "What are you doing that for?" asked Dermot.

  The police officer lowered his voice.

  "Well, Major, we don't want these would-be murderers to know how theirtrick failed. That's the reason I didn't pound the brute to a jelly on thebed, for it would have made such a mess on the sheet. Now there isn't aspeck on it. I'll take the vase with me into my room and finish the cobraoff. In the morning I'll get rid of its body somehow. When these devilsfind tomorrow that you're not dead, they'll be very puzzled. Now, thequestion is, what are you going to do?"

  "Going to bed," answered Dermot, continuing to undress. "There's nothingelse to be done at this hour, is there?"

  The police officer looked at him with admiration.

  "By George, sir, you've got pluck. If it were I, I'd want to sit up allnight with a pistol."

  "Not you. Otherwise you wouldn't be in the place at all. Besides you arequalifying for delicate little attentions like this." And Dermot flickedthe ash of his cigarette into the vase in which the cobra still writhed andt
wisted.

  "Oh, well, they haven't tumbled to me yet," said the young police officer,making light of his own courage. "I suppose you won't make any fuss aboutthis?"

  "Of course not. We've got no proof against any one."

  "But do you think it wise for you to stay on here, sir? They'll only tryagain."

  Dermot lit a fresh cigarette.

  "Well, it can't be helped. It's all in the day's work. I'm due to stay heretwo days more, and I'm damned if I'm going to move before then. As youknow, it doesn't do to show these people the white feather. Besides, I'mrather interested to see what they'll try next."

  "You're a cool hand, Major. Well, since you look at it that way, there'snothing more to be said. I see you're ready for bed, so I'll take my lampand bit of pottery, and trek."

  "Oh, just one moment, Barclay." Dermot sank his voice. "Did you notice theRajah's catch-'em-alive-ohs on sentry?"

  "You mean his soldiers? No, I can't say I did."

  "Well, just have a look at them tomorrow. I want to have a talk with youabout them."

  "I'd like to strip these bed-clothes off. I don't fancy them after thesnake. Luckily it's so hot that one doesn't want even a sheet tonight. Letme see if there's another cobra under the pillow. It's said that theygenerally go about in pairs." He turned over the pillow. "No; that's allright."

  "Hold on a minute," whispered Barclay, raising the lamp above his head withhis left hand. "Let's see if there's any concealed entrance to the room. Idaresay these old palaces are full of secret passages and masked doors."

  He sounded the walls and floors and examined them carefully.

  "Seems all right. I'll be off now. Good-night, Major. I hope you'll not bedisturbed. If there's any trouble fire a shot and I'll be here in twoshakes. I've got a pistol, and by Jingo I'll have it handy tonight. Keepyours ready, too."

  "I shall. Now a thousand thanks for your help, Barclay," said the soldier,shaking his friend's hand.

  Then he closed the door behind the police officer and by the light of amatch piled chairs against it. Then he lay down on the bed, put the pistolunder the edge of the mattress and ready to his hand, and fell asleep atonce.

  Early in the morning he was aroused by a vigorous knocking and heardBarclay's voice outside the door.

  "Are you all right, Major?" it said.

  "Yes, thanks. Good-morning," replied the soldier. "Come in. No, wait aminute."

  He jumped out of bed and removed the barricade. Barclay entered in hispyjamas. Lowering his voice he said:

  "Anything happen during the night?"

  "I don't think so. I slept soundly and heard nothing. You're up early,"replied the soldier, picking up the blankets and sheets from the floor andspreading them carelessly on the bed to make it look as if he had usedthem.

  "Yes; those infernal birds make such a confounded row. It's like being inan aviary," said Barclay.

  Dermot threw open the wooden shutters. Outside the window was a smallbalcony. On the roofs and verandahs of the Palace scores of grey-hoodedcrows were perched, filling the air with discordant sounds. Up in the paleblue sky the wheeling hawks whistled shrilly. Down in the courtyard belowyellow-beaked _mynas_ chattered volubly.

  "Don't they make a beastly row? How is a fellow to sleep?" grumbledBarclay. "Look at that cheeky beggar."

  A hooded crow perched on the railing of the balcony and, apparentlyresenting his remarks, cawed defiantly at him. The Deputy Superintendentpicked up one of Dermot's slippers and was about to hurl it at the bird,when a voice from the doorway startled him.

  "_Char, Huzoor!_ (Tea, Your Excellency!)"

  He looked round. One of the Palace servants stood at the door holding atray containing tea and buttered toast.

  Dermot directed the man to put the tray on the dressing-table, and when theservant had salaamed and left the room, he walked over to it and looked atthe food.

  "Now, is it safe to eat that?" he said. "I've no fear of the grub theyserve in the dining-hall, for they wouldn't dare to poison us all. Butsomehow I have my doubts about any nice little meal prepared exclusivelyfor me."

  "I think you're right there, Major," said Barclay, who was sitting on theedge of the bed.

  "We'll see. There isn't the usually handy pi-dog to try it on. But we'llmake use of our noisy friend here. He won't be much loss to the world if itpoisons him," and Dermot broke off a piece of the toast and threw it on thefloor of the balcony. The crow stopped his cawing, cocked his head on oneside, and eyed the tempting morsel. Buttered toast did not often come hisway. He dropped down on to the balcony floor, hopped over to the toast,pecked at it, picked it up in his strong beak, and flew with it to the roofof the building opposite. In silence the two men watched him devour it.

  "That seems all right, Major," said the police officer. "You've made himyour friend for life. He's coming back for more."

  The crow perched on the rail again and cawed loudly.

  "Oh, shut up, you greedy bird. Here's another bit for you. That's allyou'll have. I want the rest myself," said Dermot, laughing. He broke offanother piece and threw it out on to the balcony.

  The crow looked at it, ruffled its feathers, shook itself--and then fellheavily to the floor of the balcony and lay still.

  "Good heavens! What an escape!" ejaculated Barclay, suddenly pale.

  The two men stared at each other and the dead bird in silence. Then Dermotmurmured:

  "This is getting monotonous. Hang it! They _are_ in a hurry. Why, theycouldn't even know whether I was alive or not. If the snake trick had comeoff, I'd be a corpse now and this nice little meal would have been wasted.Really, they are rather crowding things on me."

  "They're taking no chances, the devils," said the younger man, who was moreupset by the occurrence than his companion.

  "Well, I'll have to do without my _chota hazri_; and I do like a cup of teain the morning," said the soldier; and he began to shave. Glancing out ofthe window he continued: "They've got a fine day for the show anyway."

  Barclay sprang up from the chair on which he had suddenly sat down. Hisnerve was shaken by the two attempts on his companion's life.

  "Damn them and their shows, the infernal murderers," he muttered savagely,and rushed out of the room.

  "Amen!" said Dermot, as he lathered his face. Death had been near him toooften before for him to be disturbed now. So he went on shaving.

  Before he left the room he poured tea into the cup on the tray and got ridof the rest of the toast, to make it appear that he had freely partaken ofthe meal. He wrapped up the dead crow in paper and locked it in hisdespatch-case, until he could dispose of it that evening after dark.

  Noreen had slept little during the night. All through the weary hours ofdarkness she had tossed restlessly on her bed, tortured by thoughts thatrevolved in monotonous circles around Dermot. What was she to believe ofhim? What were the relations between him and her friend? He had seemed verycold to Ida when they met and had avoided her all day. And she did notappear to mind. What had happened between them? Had they quarrelled? It didnot disturb Ida's rest, for the girl could hear her regular breathing allnight long, the door between their rooms being open. Was it possible thatshe and Dermot were acting indifference to deceive the people around them?

  Only towards morning did Noreen fall into a troubled, broken sleep, and shedreamt that the man she loved was in great danger. She woke up in a fright,then dozed again. She was hollow-eyed and unrefreshed when a bare-footednative "boy" knocked at her door and left a tray with her _chota hazri_ atit. She could not eat, but she drank the tea thirstily.

  Pleading fatigue she remained in her room all the morning and refused to godown to _tiffin_. When the other guests were at lunch in the dining-hall amessage was brought her that Chunerbutty begged to see her urgently. Shewent down to the lounge, where he was waiting. Struck by her want ofcolour, he enquired somewhat tenderly what ailed her. She repliedimpatiently that she was only fatigued by the previous day's journey, andasked rather crossly why he wanted to see
her.

  "I have something nice for you," he said smiling. "Something I was to giveyou."

  Glancing around to make sure that they were unobserved, he opened asandalwood box that he held in his hand and took out a large, ovalleather case, which he offered to her.

  "What is this?" she asked in surprise.

  "Open it and see," he replied.

  The girl did so unsuspectingly. It was lined with blue velvet, and restingin it was a necklace of diamonds in quaint and massive gold setting,evidently the work of a native jeweller. The stones, though badly cut, werevery large and flashed and sparkled with coloured fires. The ornament wasevidently extremely valuable. Noreen stared at it and then at Chunerbuttyin surprise.

  "What does this mean?" she demanded, an ominous ring in her voice.

  "Just a little present to you from a friend," replied the Hindu, evidentlythinking that the girl was pleased with the magnificent gift.

  "For me? Are these stones real?" she asked quietly.

  "Rather. Why, that necklace must be worth thousands of pounds. The fact isthat it's a little present from the Rajah, who admires you awfully. He----"

  Noreen's eyes blazed, and she was on the point of bursting into angrywords; but, controlling herself with an effort, she thrust the case backinto his hands and said coldly:

  "You know little of English women, Mr. Chunerbutty, if you think that theyaccept presents like that from strangers. This may be the Rajah'signorance, but it looks more like insolence."

  She turned to go; but, stopping her, he said:

  "Oh, but you don't understand. He's a great friend of mine and he knowsthat I'm awfully fond of you, little girl. So he's ready to do anything forus and give me a----"

  She walked past him, her eyes blazing with anger, with so resolute an airthat he drew back and watched her go. She went straight to her room andremained there until Ida came to tell her that it was time to dress for thecelebration of the Puja festival.

  * * * * *

  In the outer courtyard of the Palace six of the Rajah's State elephants,their tusks gilded and foreheads gaudily painted, caparisoned with richvelvet housings covered with heavy gold embroidery trailing almost to theground, bearing on their backs gold or silver howdahs fashioned in theshape of temples, awaited the European guests. Chunerbutty, when allottingpositions as Master of Ceremonies, took advantage of his position tocontrive that Noreen should accompany him on the elephant on which he wasto lead the line. The girl discovered too late that they were to be aloneon it, except for the _mahout_ on its neck. Dermot and Barclay managed tobe together on another animal.

  When all were in position in the howdahs, to which they climbed by ladders,the gates were thrown open, and through a mob of salaaming retainers theelephants emerged with stately tread on the great square in front of thePalace and proceeded through the city. The houses were gaily decorated.Flags and strips of coloured cloth fluttered from every building; gaudycarpets and embroideries hung from the innumerable balconies and windows.The elephants could scarcely force a passage through the narrow streets, socrowded were they with swarms of men, women, and children in holidayattire, all going in one direction. Their destination was the park of the_Moti Mahal_ or Pearl Palace, the Rajah's summer residence outside thewalls of the city.

  There the enormous crowd was kept back by red-robed retainers armed with_tulwars_--native curved swords--leaving clear a wide stretch of openground, in the centre of which on a gigantic altar was the image of theGoddess Kali. Before it a magnificent bull was firmly secured by chains andropes to stout posts sunk deep in the earth. The animal's head drooped andit could hardly stand up, for it had been heavily drugged for the day'sceremony and was scarcely conscious.

  The Rajah's army was drawn up in line fronting the altar, but some distanceaway from it. Two old muzzle-loading nine-pounder guns, their teams ofpowerful bullocks lying contentedly behind on the grass, formed the rightof the line. Then came the cavalry, consisting of twenty _sowars_ onsquealing white stallions with long tails dyed red. Left of them was theinfantry, two hundred sepoys in shakoes, red coatees, white trousers, andbare feet, leaning on long percussion-capped muskets with triangularbayonets.

  Shortly after the Europeans had arrived and their elephants taken up theirposition on one side of the ground, cheering announced the coming of theRajah. The cannons were discharged by slow matches and the infantrymen,raising their muskets, fired a ragged volley into the air. Then towards thealtar of Kali the Rajah was seen approaching in a long gilded car shaded bya canopy of cloth-of-gold and drawn by an enormous elephant, richlycaparisoned. Two gold-laced, scarlet-clad servants were perched on the backof the car, waving large peacock-feather fans over their monarch. A line ofcarriages followed, conveying the _Dewan_, the Durbar officials, theMinisters of the State and the leading nobles of Lalpuri. After the firstvolley, which scattered the horses of the cavalry, the artillery andinfantry loaded and fired independently as fast as their antiquated weaponspermitted, until the air was filled with smoke and the acrid smell ofgunpowder.

  The Rajah, hemmed in by spearmen with levelled points and followed by allhis suite with drawn swords, timidly approached the bull, _tulwar_ in hand.The animal was too dazed to lift its head. The Rajah raised his gleamingblade and struck at the nape of its neck, and at the same moment twoswordsmen hamstrung it. Immediately the _Dewan_, Ministers, and noblescrowded in and hacked at the wretched beast as it lurched and fell heavilyto the ground. The warm blood spurted out in jets and covered the officialsand nobles as they cut savagely at the feebly struggling carcase, and thered liquid splashed the Rajah as he stood gloating over the gaping woundsand the sufferings of the poor sacrifice, his heavy face lit up by aghastly grin of delight.

  The horrible spectacle shocked and disgusted the European spectators. Idanearly fainted, and Mrs. Rice turned green. Noreen shuddered atChunerbutty's fiendish and bestial expression, as he leaned forward in thehowdah, his face working convulsively, his eyes straining to lose no detailof the repulsive sight. He was enjoying it, like the excited, enthralledmobs of Indians of all ages around, who pressed forward, gradually pushingback the line of retainers struggling to keep the ground.

  Suddenly the swarming thousands broke loose. They surged madly forward,engulfing and sweeping the soldiers along with them, and rushed on thedying bull. They fought savagely to reach it. Those who succeeded threwthemselves on the quivering carcase and with knives or bare hands torepieces of still living flesh from it and thrust them into their mouths.Then, blooded to the eyes, they raised their reddened arms aloft, whilefrom thousands of throats rang out the fanatical cry:

  "_Kali Ma ki jai!_ (Victory to Mother Kali!)"

  They surged around the altar. The Rajah was knocked down and nearlytrampled on by the maddened, hysterical crowd. _Dewan_, Ministers,officials, guards were hustled and swept aside. The cavalry commander sawhis ruler's danger and collecting a dozen of his _sowars_ charged thereligious-mad mob and rescued the Rajah from his dangerous position, ridingdown and sabring men, women, and children, the fierce stallions savagingeveryone within reach with their bared teeth.

  Chunerbutty, in whom old racial instincts were rekindled, had scarcely beenable to restrain himself from climbing down and joining in the frenziedrush on the bull. But the turn of events sobered him and induced him tolisten at last to Noreen's entreaties and angry demands from the Englishmenwho bade him order the _mahouts_ to take the visitors away from thehorrible spectacle. As they left they saw the Rajah's golden chariot andthe carriages of the officials being driven helter-skelter across the grasswith their blood-stained and terrified occupants. And the madly fanaticalcrowds surged wildly around the altar, while their cries to Kali rent theair.

  The elephants lumbered swiftly in file through the deserted city, for itwas now emptied of its inhabitants. Merchants, traders, shopkeepers,workers, harlots, and criminals, all had flocked to the _Moti Mahal_ towitness the sacrifice.

  As they entered the Palace gates
the _mahout_ of the animal carryingBarclay, Dermot, and two planters called to a native standing idly in thecourtyard:

  "Why wert thou not out with thy elephant, Ebrahim?"

  The man addressed, a grey-bearded Mussulman, replied:

  "Shiva-_ji_ is bad today. I fear him greatly."

  "Is it the madness of the _dhantwallah_?"

  "It is the madness."

  And the speaker cracked his finger-joints to avert evil luck.

  Dinner was not a very jovial meal among the English guests that night. Muchto their relief the Rajah did not come in to them. The ladies retired earlyto their rooms, and the men were not long in following their example.

  Barclay and Dermot, who were the only occupants of the floor on which theirrooms were situated--it was the top one of the wing--went upstairstogether. At the Deputy Superintendent's door a man squatted and, as theyapproached, rose, and saluted them in military fashion. It was Barclay'spolice orderly.

  "Hast got it?" asked his master in the vernacular.

  "I have got it, Sahib. It is here," and the man placed a small coveredbasket in his hands.

  "_Bahut atcha. Ruksat hai_" (very good. You have leave to go), said hisofficer, using the ordinary Indian formula for dismissing a subordinate.

  "Salaam, Sahib."

  The orderly saluted and went away down the passage.

  "Wait a moment, Major; I'm going with you to your room," said the DeputySuperintendent, opening his door. "Do you mind bringing my light along, asyours may be gone again. My hands are full with this basket."

  When they reached Dermot's apartment they found a lamp burning feebly init, smoking, and giving little light.

  "Looks as if there's a fresh game on tonight," said Dermot in a low voice."This is not the lamp I had before dinner. That was a large and brilliantone. I'm glad we brought yours along."

  "Barricade the door, Major," whispered Barclay. "Are the shutters closed?Yes; that's all right."

  "What have you got in that mysterious basket?" his companion asked.

  "You'll see presently."

  He set it down on the floor and raised the lid. A small, sharp-muzzled headwith fierce pink eyes popped up and looked about suspiciously. Then itsowner climbed cautiously out on to the floor. It was a slim, long-bodiedlittle animal like a ferret, with a long, furry tail.

  "Hullo! A mongoose? You think they'll try the same trick again?" askedDermot.

  He glanced at the bed and picked up his cane.

  "Just stand still, Major, and watch. If there's anything in the snake lineabout our young friend here will attend to it."

  The mongoose trotted forward for a few steps, then sat down and scratcheditself. It rose, yawned, stretched its legs, and looked up at the two men,betraying no fear of them. Then it lifted its sharp nose into the air,sniffed, and pattered about the room, stopping to smell the legs of thedressing-table and a cap of Dermot's lying on the floor. It investigatedseveral rat-holes at the bottom of the walls and approached the bed. Underit a pair of the soldier's slippers were lying. The mongoose, passing bythem, turned to smell them. Suddenly it sprang back, leaping a couple offeet into the air. When it touched the floor it crouched with bared teeth,the hair on its back bristling and its tail fluffed out until it was biggerthan the body of the fierce little animal.

  "By Jove, it has found something!" exclaimed Barclay.

  The two men leant forward and watched intently. The mongoose approached theslippers again in a series of bounds, jumped around them, crouched, andthen sprang into the air again.

  Suddenly there was a rush and a scurry. The mongoose had pounced on oneslipper and was shaking it savagely, beating it on the floor, rolling overand over and leaping into the air with it. Its movements were so rapid thatfor a few moments the watchers could distinguish nothing in the miniaturecyclone of slipper and ball of fluffy hair inextricably mingled. Then therewas a pause. The mongoose stood still, then backed away with stiffenedlegs, its sharp teeth fixed in the neck of a small snake about ten incheslong, which it was trying to drag out of the slipper.

  "Good heavens! This is worse than last night," cried Barclay. "It's a_karait_."

  This reptile is almost more poisonous than a cobra, and, as it is thin andrarely exceeds twelve inches in length, it can hide anywhere and is an evendeadlier menace in a house.

  The mongoose backed across the room, dragging the snake and with it theslipper.

  "Why the deuce doesn't it pull the _karait_ out?" said Dermot, bending downto look more closely, as the mongoose paused. "By George! Look at this,Barclay. The snake's fastened to the inside of the slipper by a loop and abit of thin wire."

  "What a devilish trick!" cried Barclay.

  "Well, I hope that concludes the entertainment for tonight," said Dermot."Enough is as good as a feast."

  When next morning the servant brought in his tray, Dermot was smoking acigarette in an easy chair, and he fancied that there was a scaredexpression in the man's eyes, as the fellow looked covertly at the slipperson the Major's feet.