第13章

Weweretravellingthroughtheforestinwhichtheyfoundthebabies,andwhich,asIhadsuspected,stretchedallthewayfromthevalleytothehotstream。

Atinygirlsatwithherlittlefeetclosetomyface,andlookeddownatmecoaxinglyforawhile,thenspoke,therestseemingtohangonherwords。

"Wemakeapetissontoking,"shesaid。

"Whatisit,mydarling？"Iasked。

"Suteyesoneminute,"sheanswered。

"CertainlyIwill！Heregoes！"Ireplied,andshutmyeyesclose。

"No,no！notforeItelloo！"shecried。

Iopenedthemagain,andwetalkedandlaughedtogetherforquiteanotherhour。

"Closeeyes！"shesaidsuddenly。

Iclosedmyeyes,andkeptthemclose。Theelephantsstoodstill。

Iheardasoftscurry,alittlerustle,andthenasilence——forinthatworldSOMEsilencesAREheard。

"Openeyes！"twentyvoicesalittlewayoffshoutedatonce;butwhenIobeyed,notacreaturewasvisibleexcepttheelephantsthatboreme。Iknewthechildrenmarvellouslyquickingettingoutoftheway——thegiantshadtaughtthemthat;butwhenIraisedmyself,andlookingaboutintheopenshrublessforest,coulddescryneitherhandnorheel,Istaredin"blankastonishment。"

Thesunwasset,anditwasfastgettingdark,yetpresentlyamultitudeofbirdsbegantosing。Ilaydowntolisten,prettysurethat,ifIleftthemalone,thehiderswouldsooncomeoutagain。

Thesinginggrewtoalittlestormofbird—voices。"Surelythechildrenmusthavesomethingtodowithit！——Andyethowcouldtheysetthebirdssinging？"IsaidtomyselfasIlayandlistened。

Soon,however,happeningtolookupintothetreeunderwhichmyelephantsstood,IthoughtIspiedalittlemotionamongtheleaves,andlookedmorekeenly。Suddenwhitespotsappearedinthedarkfoliage,themusicdieddown,agaleofchildishlaughterrippledtheair,andwhitespotscameoutineverydirection:thetreeswerefullofchildren！Inthewildestmerrimenttheybegantodescend,somedroppingfromboughtoboughsorapidlythatIcouldscarcebelievetheyhadnotfallen。Ileftmylitter,andwasinstantlysurrounded——amarkforalltheartilleryoftheirjubilantfun。

Withstatelycomposuretheelephantswalkedawaytobed。

"But,"saidI,whentheiruproariousgladnesshadhadscopeforawhile,"howisitthatIneverbeforeheardyousinglikethebirds？

EvenwhenIthoughtitmustbeyou,Icouldhardlybelieveit！"

"Ah,"saidoneofthewildest,"butwewerenotbirdsthen！Wewererun—creatures,notfly—creatures！Wehadourhide—placesinthebushesthen;butwhenwecametono—bushes,onlytrees,wehadtobuildnests！Whenwebuiltnests,wegrewbirds,andwhenwewerebirds,wehadtodobirds！Weaskedthemtoteachustheirnoises,andtheytaughtus,andnowwearerealbirds！——Comeandseemynest。It\'snotbigenoughforking,butit\'sbigenoughforkingtoseemeinit！"

ItoldhimIcouldnotgetupatreewithoutthesuntoshowmetheway;whenhecame,Iwouldtry。

"Kingsseldomhavewings！"Iadded。

"King！king！"criedone,"ooknowsnoneofushasn\'tnowings——foolisfedderytings！Armsandlegsisbetter。"

"Thatistrue。Icangetupwithoutwings——andcarrystrawsinmymouthtoo,tobuildmynestwith！"

"Ooknows！"heanswered,andwentawaysuckinghisthumb。

Amomentafter,Iheardhimcallingoutofhisnest,agreatwayupawalnuttreeofenormoussize,"Upadain,king！Doodnight！Iseepy！"

AndIheardnomoreofhimtillhewokemeinthemorning。

CHAPTERXXXIII

LONA\'SNARRATIVE

Ilaydownbyatree,andoneandoneorinlittlegroups,thechildrenleftmeandclimbedtotheirnests。Theywerealwayssotiredatnightandsorestedinthemorning,thattheywereequallygladtogotosleepandtogetupagain。I,althoughtiredalso,layawake:Lonahadnotbidmegoodnight,andIwassureshewouldcome。

Ihadbeenstruck,themomentIsawheragain,withherresemblancetotheprincess,andcouldnotdoubtherthedaughterofwhomAdamhadtoldme;butinLonathedazzlingbeautyofLilithwassoftenedbychildlikeness,anddeepenedbythesenseofmotherhood。"Sheisoccupiedprobably,"Isaidtomyself,"withthechildofthewomanImetfleeing！"who,shehadalreadytoldme,wasnothalfmotherenough。

Shecameatlength,satdownbesideme,andafterafewmomentsofsilentdelight,expressedmainlybystrokingmyfaceandhands,begantotellmeeverythingthathadbefallensinceIwent。Themoonappearedaswetalked,andnowandthen,throughtheleaves,lightedforaquiveringmomentherbeautifulface——fullofthought,andacarewhoseloveredeemedandglorifiedit。Howsuchachildshouldhavebeenbornofsuchamother——suchawomanofsuchaprincess,washardtounderstand;butthen,happily,shehadtwoparents——sayrather,three！Shedrewmyheartbywhatinmewaslikestherself,andIlovedherasonewho,growtowhatperfectionshemight,couldonlybecomethemoreachild。IknewnowthatI

lovedherwhenIlefther,andthatthehopeofseeingheragainhadbeenmymaincomfort。Everywordshespokeseemedtogostraighttomyheart,and,likethetruthitself,makeitpurer。

ShetoldmethatafterIlefttheorchardvalley,thegiantsbegantobelievealittlemoreintheactualexistenceoftheirneighbours,andbecameinconsequencemorehostiletothem。SometimestheLittleOneswouldseethemtramplingfuriously,perceivingorimaginingsomeindicationoftheirpresence,whiletheyindeedstoodbeside,andlaughedattheirfoolishrage。Byandby,however,theiranimosityassumedamorepracticalshape:theybegantodestroythetreesonwhosefruittheLittleOneslived。Thisdrovethemotherofthemalltomeditatecounteraction。Settingthesharpestofthemtolistenatnight,shelearnedthatthegiantsthoughtIwashiddensomewherenear,intending,assoonasI

recoveredmystrength,tocomeinthedarkandkillthemsleeping。

Thereuponsheconcludedthattheonlywaytostopthedestructionwastogivethemgroundforbelievingthattheyhadabandonedtheplace。TheLittleOnesmustremoveintotheforest——beyondtherangeofthegiants,butwithinreachoftheirowntrees,whichtheymustvisitbynight！Themainobjectiontotheplanwas,thattheforesthadlittleornoundergrowthtoshelter——orconcealthemifnecessary。

Butshereflectedthatwherebirds,theretheLittleOnescouldfindhabitation。Theyhadeagersympathieswithallmodesoflife,andcouldlearnofthewildestcreatures:whyshouldtheynottakerefugefromthecoldandtheirenemiesinthetree—tops？whynot,havinglaininthelowbrushwood,seeknowtheloftyfoliage？whynotbuildnestswhereitwouldnotservetoscoophollows？Allthatthebirdscoulddo,theLittleOnescouldlearn——except,indeed,tofly！

Shespoketothemonthesubject,andtheyheardwithapproval。

Theycouldalreadyclimbthetrees,andtheyhadoftenwatchedthebirdsbuildingtheirnests！Thetreesoftheforest,althoughlarge,didnotlookbad！Theywentupmuchnearertheskythanthoseofthegiants,andspreadouttheirarms——someevenstretchedthemdown——asifinvitingthemtocomeandlivewiththem！Perhaps,inthetopofthetallest,theymightfindthatbirdthatlaidthebaby—eggs,andsatuponthemtilltheywereripe,thentumbledthemdowntoletthelittleonesout！Yes;theywouldbuildsleep—housesinthetrees,wherenogiantwouldseethem,forneverbyanychancedidonethrowbackhisdullheadtolookup！Thenthebadgiantswouldbesuretheyhadleftthecountry,andtheLittleOneswouldgathertheirownapplesandpearsandfigsandmesplesandpeacheswhentheywereasleep！

ThusreasonedtheLovers,andeagerlyadoptedLona\'ssuggestion——withtheresultthattheyweresoonasmuchathomeinthetree—topsasthebirdsthemselves,andthatthegiantscameerelongtotheconclusionthattheyhadfrightenedthemoutofthecountry——whereupontheyforgottheirtrees,andagainalmostceasedtobelieveintheexistenceoftheirsmallneighbours。

LonaaskedmewhetherIhadnotobservedthatmanyofthechildrenweregrown。IansweredIhadnot,butcouldreadilybelieveit。

Sheassuredmeitwasso,butsaidthecertainevidencethattheirmindstoohadgrownsincetheirmigrationupward,hadgonefarinmitigationofthealarmthediscoveryhadoccasionedher。

Inthelastoftheshorttwilight,andlaterwhenthemoonwasshining,theywentdowntothevalley,andgatheredfruitenoughtoservethemthenextday;forthegiantsneverwentoutinthetwilight:thattothemwasdarkness;andtheyhatedthemoon:hadtheybeenable,theywouldhaveextinguishedher。ButsoontheLittleOnesfoundthatfruitgatheredinthenightwasnotaltogethergoodthenextday;sothequestionarosewhetheritwouldnotbebetter,insteadofpretendingtohaveleftthecountry,tomakethebadgiantsthemselvesleaveit。

Theyhadalready,shesaid,inexploringtheforest,madeacquaintancewiththeanimalsinit,andwithmostofthempersonally。Knowingthereforehowstrongaswellaswiseanddocilesomeofthemwere,andhowswiftaswellasmanageablemanyothers,theynowsetthemselvestosecuretheiraidagainstthegiants,andwithloving,playfulapproaches,hadsoonmademorethanfriendsofmostofthem,fromthefirstaddressinghorseorelephantasBrotherorSisterElephant,BrotherorSisterHorse,untilbeforelongtheyhadanindividualnameforeach。ItwassomelittletimelongerbeforetheysaidBrotherorSisterBear,butthatcamenext,andtheotherdayshehadheardonelittlefellowcry,"Ah,SisterSerpent！"toasnakethatbithimasheplayedwithittooroughly。Mostofthemwouldhavenothingtodowithacaterpillar,exceptwatchitthroughitschanges;butwhenatlengthitcamefromitsretirementwithwings,allwouldimmediatelyaddressitasSisterButterfly,congratulatingitonitsmetamorphosis——forwhichtheyusedawordthatmeantsomethinglikeREPENTANCE——andevidentlyregardingitassomethingsacred。

Onemoonlitevening,astheyweregoingtogathertheirfruit,theycameuponawomanseatedonthegroundwithababyinherlap——thewomanIhadmetonmywaytoBulika。Theytookherforagiantessthathadstolenoneoftheirbabies,fortheyregardedallbabiesastheirproperty。Filledwithangertheyfelluponhermultitudinously,beatingherafterachildish,yetsufficientlybewilderingfashion。

Shewouldhavefled,butaboythrewhimselfdownandheldherbythefeet。Recoveringherwits,sherecognisedinherassailantsthechildrenwhosehospitalityshesought,andatonceyieldedthebaby。Lonaappeared,andcarrieditawayinherbosom。

Butwhilethewomannotedthatinstrikinghertheywerecarefulnottohurtthechild,theLittleOnesnotedthat,asshesurrenderedher,shehuggedandkissedherjustastheywantedtodo,andcametotheconclusionthatshemustbeagiantessofthesamekindasthegoodgiant。ThemomentLonahadthebaby,therefore,theybroughtthemotherfruit,andbegantoshowhereverysortofchildishattention。

Nowthewomanhadbeeninperplexitywhithertobetakeherself,notdaringtogobacktothecity,becausetheprincesswascertaintofindoutwhohadlamedherleopardess:delightedwiththefriendlinessofthelittlepeople,sheresolvedtoremainwiththemforthepresent:shewouldhavenotroublewithherinfant,andmightfindsomewayofreturningtoherhusband,whowasrichinmoneyandgems,andveryseldomunkindtoher。

HereImustsupplement,partlyfromconjecture,whatLonatoldmeaboutthewoman。WiththerestoftheinhabitantsofBulika,shewasawareofthetraditionthattheprincesslivedinterrorofthebirthofaninfantdestinedtoherdestruction。Theywereallunacquainted,however,withthefrightfulmeansbywhichshepreservedheryouthandbeauty;andherdeterioratingphysicalconditionrequiringalargeruseofthosemeans,theytooktheapparentincreaseofherhostilitytochildrenforasignthatshesawherdoomapproaching。This,althoughnoonedreamedofanyattemptagainsther,nourishedinthemhopesofchange。

Nowaroseinthemindofthewomantheideaoffurtheringthefulfilmentoftheshadowyprediction,orofusingthemythatleastforherownrestorationtoherhusband。Forwhatseemedmoreprobablethanthatthefateforetoldlaywiththeseverychildren？

Theyweremarvellouslybrave,andtheBulikanscowards,inabjectterrorofanimals！IfshecouldrouseintheLittleOnestheambitionoftakingthecity,thenintheconfusionoftheattack,shewouldescapefromthelittlearmy,reachherhouseunrecognised,andtherelyinghidden,awaittheresult！

Shouldthechildrennowsucceedinexpellingthegiants,shewouldbeginatonce,whiletheywereyetflushedwithvictory,tosuggesttheloftieraim！Bydisposition,indeed,theywereunfitforwarfare;theyhardlyeverquarrelled,andneverfought;lovedeverylivething,andhatedeithertohurtortosuffer。Still,theywereeasilyinfluenced,andcouldcertainlybetaughtanyexercisewithintheirstrength！——Atonceshesetsomeofthesmalleronesthrowingstonesatamark;andsoontheywereallengrossedwiththenewgame,andgrowingskilfulinit。

Thefirstpracticalresultwastheiruseofstonesinmyrescue。

Whilegatheringfruit,theyfoundmeasleep,wenthome,heldacouncil,camethenextdaywiththeirelephantsandhorses,overwhelmedthefewgiantswatchingme,andcarriedmeoff。Jubilantovertheirvictory,thesmallerboyswerechildishlyboastful,thebiggerboyslessostentatious,whilethegirls,althoughtheireyesflashedmore,werenotsotalkativeasusual。ThewomanofBulikanodoubtfeltencouraged。

Wetalkedthegreaterpartofthenight,chieflyaboutthegrowthofthechildren,andwhatitmightindicate。WithLona\'spowerofrecognisingtruthIhadlongbeenfamiliar;nowIbegantobeastonishedatherpracticalwisdom。Probably,hadIbeenmoreofachildmyself,Ishouldhavewonderedless。

ItwasyetfarfrommorningwhenIbecameawareofaslightflutteringandscrambling。Iroseonmyelbow,andlookingaboutme,sawmanyLittleOnesdescendfromtheirnests。Theydisappeared,andinafewmomentsallwasagainstill。

"Whataretheydoing？"Iasked。

"Theythink,"answeredLona,"that,stupidastheyare,thegiantswillsearchthewood,andtheyaregonetogatherstoneswithwhichtoreceivethem。Stonesarenotplentifulintheforest,andtheyhavetoscatterfartofindenow。Theywillcarrythemtotheirnests,andfromthetreesattackthegiantsastheycomewithinreach。Knowingtheirhabits,theydonotexpectthembeforethemorning。Iftheydocome,itwillbetheopeningofawarofexpulsion:oneortheotherpeoplemustgo。Theresult,however,ishardlydoubtful。Wedonotmeantokillthem;indeed,theirskullsaresothickthatIdonotthinkwecould！——notthatkillingwoulddothemmuchharm;theyaresolittlealive！Ifonewerekilled,hisgiantesswouldnotrememberhimbeyondthreedays！"

"DothechildrenthenthrowsowellthatthethingMIGHThappen？"

Iasked。

"Waittillyouseethem！"sheanswered,withatouchofpride。

"——ButIhavenotyettoldyou,"shewenton,"ofastrangethingthathappenedthenightbeforelast！——Wehadcomehomefromgatheringourfruit,andwereasleepinournests,whenwewererousedbythehorridnoisesofbeastsfighting。Themoonwasbright,andinamomentourtreesglitteredwithstaringlittleeyes,watchingtwohugeleopardesses,oneperfectlywhite,theothercoveredwithblackspots,whichworriedandtoreeachotherwithIdonotknowhowmanyteethandclaws。Tojudgebyherback,thespottedcreaturemusthavebeenclimbingatreewhentheotherspranguponher。WhenfirstIsawthem,theywerejustundermyowntree,rollingoverandovereachother。Igotdownonthelowestbranch,andsawthemperfectly。Thechildrenenjoyedthespectacle,sidingsomewiththisone,somewiththat,forwehadneverseensuchbeastsbefore,andthoughttheywereonlyatplay。Butbydegreestheirroaringandgrowlingalmostceased,andIsawthattheywereindeadlyearnest,andheartilywishedneithermightbeleftabletoclimbatree。Butwhenthechildrensawthebloodpouringfromtheirflanksandthroats,whatdoyouthinktheydid？Theyscurrieddowntocomfortthem,andgatheringinagreatcrowdabouttheterriblecreatures,begantopatandstrokethem。ThenIgotdownaswell,fortheyweremuchtooabsorbedtoheedmycallingtothem;butbeforeIcouldreachthem,thewhiteonestoppedfighting,andsprangamongthemwithsuchahideousyellthattheyflewupintothetreeslikebirds。BeforeIgotbackintomine,thewickedbeastswereatitagaintoothandclaw。ThenWhiteyhadthebestofit;Spottyranawayasfastasshecouldrun,andWhiteycameandlaydownatthefootofmytree。Butinaminuteortwoshewasupagain,andwalkingaboutasifshethoughtSpottymightbelurkingsomewhere。

Iwakedoften,andeverytimeIlookedout,Isawher。Inthemorningshewentaway。"

"Iknowboththebeasts,"Isaid。"Spottyisabadbeast。Shehatesthechildren,andwouldkilleveryoneofthem。ButWhiteylovesthem。Sheranatthemonlytofrightenthemaway,lestSpottyshouldgetholdofanyofthem。NooneneedsbeafraidofWhitey！"

BythistimetheLittleOneswerecomingback,andwithmuchnoise,fortheyhadnocaretokeepquietnowthattheywereatopenwarwiththegiants,andladenwithgoodstones。Theymountedtotheirnestsagain,thoughwithdifficultybecauseoftheirburdens,andinaminutewerefastasleep。Lonaretiredtohertree。IlaywhereIwas,andsleptthebetterthatIthoughtmostlikelythewhiteleopardesswasstillsomewhereinthewood。

Iwokesoonafterthesun,andlaypondering。Twohourspassed,andthenintruththegiantsbegantoappear,instragglingcompaniesofthreeandfour,untilIcountedoverahundredofthem。Thechildrenwerestillasleep,andtocallthemwoulddrawtheattentionofthegiants:Iwouldkeepquietsolongastheydidnotdiscoverme。

Butbyandbyonecameblunderinguponme,stumbled,fell,androseagain。Ithoughthewouldpassheedless,buthebegantosearchabout。Isprangtomyfeet,andstruckhiminthemiddleofhishugebody。Theroarhegaverousedthechildren,andastormasofhailinstantlycameon,ofwhichnotastonestruckme,andnotonemissedthegiant。Hefellandlay。Othersdrewnear,andthestormextended,eachpurblindcreaturebecoming,asheenteredtherangeofagarrisonedtree,atargetforconvergingstones。Inashorttimealmosteverygiantwasprostrate,andajubilantp鎍nofbird—songrosefromthetopsoffiftytrees。

Manyelephantscamehurryingup,andthechildrendescendingthetreeslikemonkeys,inamomenteveryelephanthadthreeorfourofthemonhisback,andthusloaded,begantowalkoverthegiants,wholayandroared。Losingpatienceatlengthwiththeirnoise,theelephantsgavethemafewblowsoftheirtrunks,andleftthem。

Untilnightthebadgiantsremainedwheretheyhadfallen,silentandmotionless。Thenextmorningtheyhaddisappearedeveryone,andthechildrensawnomoreofthem。Theyremovedtotheotherendoftheorchardvalley,andneverafterventuredintotheforest。

CHAPTERXXXIV

PREPARATION

Victorythusgained,thewomanofBulikabegantospeakaboutthecity,andtalkedmuchofitsdefencelesscondition,ofthewickednessofitsprincess,ofthecowardiceofitsinhabitants。InafewdaysthechildrenchatteredofnothingbutBulika,althoughindeedtheyhadnottheleastnotionofwhatacitywas。ThenfirstI

becameawareofthedesignofthewoman,althoughnotyetofitsmotive。

Theideaoftakingpossessionoftheplace,recommendeditselfgreatlytoLona——andtomealso。Thechildrenwerenowsorapidlydevelopingfaculty,thatIcouldseenoseriousobstacletothesuccessoftheenterprise。FortheterribleLilith——womanorleopardess,Iknewheronevulnerablepoint,herdoomthroughherdaughter,andtheinfluencetheancientprophecyhaduponthecitizens:surelywhateverintheenterprisecouldbecalledrisk,wasworthtaking！Successful,——andwhocoulddoubttheirsuccess？——mustnottheLittleOnes,fromacrowdofchildren,speedilybecomeayouthfulpeople,whosegovernmentandinfluencewouldbeallforrighteousness？Rulingthewickedwitharodofiron,wouldtheynotbetheredemptionofthenation？

Atthesametime,IhavetoconfessthatIwasnotwithoutviewsofpersonaladvantage,notwithoutambitionintheundertaking。Itwasjust,itseemedtome,thatLonashouldtakeherseatonthethronethathadbeenhermother\'s,andnaturalthatsheshouldmakeofmeherconsortandminister。Forme,Iwouldspendmylifeinherservice;andbetweenus,whatmightwenotdo,withsuchacoretoitastheLittleOnes,forthedevelopmentofanoblestate？

Iconfessalsotoanaltogetherfoolishdreamofopeningacommerceingemsbetweenthetwoworlds——happilyimpossible,foritcouldhavedonenothingbutharmtoboth。

CallingtomindtheappealofAdam,IsuggestedtoLonathattofindthemwatermightperhapsexpeditethegrowthoftheLittleOnes。Shejudgeditprudent,however,toleavethataloneforthepresent,aswedidnotknowwhatitsfirstconsequencesmightbe;

while,inthecourseoftime,itwouldalmostcertainlysubjectthemtoanewnecessity。

"Theyarewhattheyarewithoutit！"shesaid:"whenwehavethecity,wewillsearchforwater！"

Webegan,therefore,andpushedforwardourpreparations,constantlyreviewingthemerrytroopsandcompanies。Lonagaveherattentionchieflytothecommissariat,whileIdrilledthelittlesoldiers,exercisedtheminstone—throwing,taughtthemtheuseofsomeotherweapons,anddidallIcouldtomakewarriorsofthem。Themaindifficultywastogetthemtorallytotheirflagtheinstantthecallwassounded。Mostofthemwerearmedwithslings,someofthebiggerboyswithbowsandarrows。Thebiggergirlscarriedaloe—spikes,strongassteelandsharpasneedles,fittedtolongishshafts——ratherformidableweapons。Theirsoledutywasthechargeofsuchasweretoosmalltofight。

Lonahadherselfgrownagooddeal,butdidnotseemawareofit:

shehadalwaysbeen,asshestillwas,thetallest！Herhairwasmuchlonger,andshewasbecomealmostawoman,butnotonebeautyofchildhoodhadsheoutgrown。Whenfirstwemetafterourlongseparation,shelaiddownherinfant,putherarmsroundmyneck,andclungtomesilent,herfaceglowingwithgladness:thechildwhimpered;shesprangtohim,andhadhiminherbosominstantly。

Toseeherwithanythoughtless,obstinate,orirritablelittleone,wastothinkofatendergrandmother。Iseemedtohaveknownherforages——foralways——frombeforetimebegan！Ihardlyrememberedmymother,butinmymind\'seyeshenowlookedlikeLona;andifI

imaginedsisterorchild,invariablyshehadthefaceofLona！Myeveryimaginationflewtoher;shewasmyheart\'swife！Shehardlyeversoughtme,butwasalmostalwayswithinsoundofmyvoice。WhatIdidorthought,Ireferredconstantlytoher,andrejoicedtobelievethat,whiledoingherworkinabsoluteindependence,shewasmostathomebymyside。Neverformedidsheneglectthesmallestchild,andmyloveonlyquickenedmysenseofduty。Toloveherandtodomyduty,seemed,notindeedone,butinseparable。

ShemightsuggestsomethingIshoulddo;shemightaskmewhatsheoughttodo;butsheneverseemedtosupposethatI,anymorethanshe,wouldliketodo,orcouldcareaboutanythingexceptwhatmustbedone。Herloveoverfloweduponme——notincaresses,butinaclosenessofrecognitionwhichIcancomparetonothingbutthedevotionofadivineanimal。

Inevertoldheranythingabouthermother。

Thewoodwasfullofbirds,thesplendourofwhoseplumage,whileittooknothingfromtheirsong,seemedalmosttomakeupforthelackofflowers——which,apparently,couldnotgrowwithoutwater。

Theirgloriousfeathersbeingeverywhereaboutintheforest,itcameintomyhearttomakefromthemagarmentforLona。WhileI

gathered,andboundtheminoverlappingrows,shewatchedmewithevidentappreciationofmychoiceandarrangement,neveraskingwhatIwasfashioning,butevidentlywaitingexpectanttheresultofmywork。Inaweekortwoitwasfinished——alongloosemantle,tofastenatthethroatandwaist,withopeningsforthearms。

Iroseandputitonher。Sherose,tookitoff,andlaiditatmyfeet——Iimaginefromasenseofpropriety。Iputitagainonhershoulders,andshowedherwheretoputherarmsthrough。Shesmiled,lookedatthefeathersalittleandstrokedthem——againtookitoffandlaiditdown,thistimebyherside。Whensheleftme,shecarrieditwithher,andIsawnomoreofitforsomedays。

Atlengthshecametomeonemorningwearingit,andcarryinganothergarmentwhichshehadfashionedsimilarly,butofthedriedleavesofatoughevergreen。Ithadthestrengthalmostofleather,andtheappearanceofscale—armour。Iputitonatonce,andwealwaysthereafterworethosegarmentswhenonhorseback。

For,ontheoutskirtsoftheforest,hadappearedonedayatroopoffull—grownhorses,withwhich,astheywerenowisealarmedatcreaturesofashapesodifferentfromtheirown,Ihadsoonmadefriends,andtwoofthefinestIhadtrainedforLonaandmyself。

Alreadyaccustomedtorideasmallone,herdelightwasgreatwhenfirstshelookeddownfromthebackofananimalofthegiantkind;

andthehorseshowedhimselfproudoftheburdenhebore。Weexercisedthemeverydayuntiltheyhadsuchconfidenceinusastoobeyinstantlyandfearnothing;afterwhichwealwaysrodethematparadeandonthemarch。

Theundertakingdidindeedattimesappeartomeafoolhardyone,buttheconfidenceofthewomanofBulika,realorsimulated,alwaysovercamemyhesitancy。Theprincess\'smagic,sheinsisted,wouldprovepowerlessagainstthechildren;andastoanyforceshemightmuster,ouranimal—alliesalonewouldassureoursuperiority:

shewasherself,shesaid,ready,withagoodstick,toencounteranytwomenofBulika。Sheconfessedtonotalittlefearoftheleopardess,butIwasmyselfreadyforher。Ishrank,however,fromcarryingALLthechildrenwithus。

"Woulditnotbebetter,"Isaid,"thatyouremainedintheforestwithyourbabyandthesmallestoftheLittleOnes？"

Sheansweredthatshegreatlyreliedontheimpressionthesightofthemwouldmakeonthewomen,especiallythemothers。

"Whentheyseethedarlings,"shesaid,"theirheartswillbetakenbystorm;andImustbethereencouragingthemtomakeastand！Iftherebearemnantofhardihoodintheplace,itwillbefoundamongthewomen！"

"YOUmustnotencumberyourself,"IsaidtoLona,"withanyofthechildren;youwillbewantedeverywhere！"

Forthereweretwobabiesbesidesthewoman\'s,andevenonhorsebackshehadalmostalwaysoneinherarms。

"Idonotremembereverbeingwithoutachildtotakecareof,"sheanswered;"butwhenwereachthecity,itshallbeasyouwish！"

Herconfidenceinonewhohadfailedsounworthily,shamedme。ButneitherhadIinitiatedthemovement,norhadIanygroundforopposingit;Ihadnochoice,butmustgiveitthebesthelpI

could！Formyself,IwasreadytoliveordiewithLona。Herhumilityaswellashertrusthumbledme,andIgavemyselfheartilytoherpurposes。

Ourwaylyingacrossagrassyplain,therewasnoneedtotakefoodforthehorses,orthetwocowswhichwouldaccompanyusfortheinfants;buttheelephantshadtobeprovidedfor。True,thegrasswasasgoodforthemasforthoseotheranimals,butitwasshort,andwiththeirone—fingeredlongnoses,theycouldnotpickenoughforasinglemeal。Wehad,therefore,setthewholecolonytogathergrassandmakehay,ofwhichtheelephantsthemselvescouldcarryaquantitysufficienttolastthemseveraldays,withthesupplementofwhatwewouldgatherfresheverytimewehalted。Forthebearswestorednuts,andforourselvesdriedplentyoffruits。