"
The twinkle died out as Moti Guj tried to look delighted. He hated stump-
hauling on the plantation. It hurt his teeth.
"I shall be gone for ten days, oh, delectable one! Hold up your near forefoot
and I'll impress the fact upon it, warty toad of a dried mud-puddle." Deesa
took a tent-peg and banged Moti Guj ten times on the nails. Moti Guj grunted
and shuffled from foot to foot.
"Ten days," said Deesa, "you will work and haul and root the trees as Chihun
here shall order you. Take up Chihun and set him on your neck!" Moti Guj curled
the tip of his trunk, Chihun put his foot there, and was swung on to the neck.
Deesa handed Chihun the heavy ankus--the iron elephant goad.
Chihun thumped Moti Guj's bald head as a paver thumps a curbstone.
Moti Guj trumpeted.
"Be still, hog of the backwoods! Chihun's your mahout for ten days. And now bid
me goodbye, beast after mine own heart. Oh, my lord, my king! Jewel of all
created elephants, lily of the herd, preserve your honored health; be virtuous.
Adieu!"
Moti Guj lapped his trunk round Deesa and swung him into the air twice. That
was his way of bidding him goodbye.
"He'll work now," said Deesa to the planter. "Have I leave to go?"
The planter nodded, and Deesa dived into the woods.
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