and put him back on the poSt. Next morning he gave him a scolding and said, “Are not good brick elephant lines and a little tent carrying enough, that thou must needs go elephant catching on thy own account, little worthless? Now those foolish hunters, whose pay is less than my pay, have spoken to Petersen Sahib of the matter.” Little Toomai was frightened. He did not know much of white men, but Petersen Sahib was the greatest white man in the world to him. He was the head of all the Keddah operations — the man who caught all the elephants for the Government of India, and who knew more about the ways of elephants than any living man.

“What — what will happen?” said Little Toomai.

“Happen! The worst that can happen. Petersen Sahib is a madman.