“Hear him!” said the other driver. “ We have swept the hills! Ho! ho! You are very wise, you plains-people. Anyone but a mudhead who never saw the jungle would know that they know that the drives are ended for the season. Therefore all the wild elephants tonight will⁠—but why should I waste wisdom on a river-turtle?”

“What will they do?” Little Toomai called out.

“ Ohé , little one. Art thou there? Well, I will tell thee, for thou hast a cool head. They will dance, and it behooves thy father, who has swept all the hills of all the elephants, to double-chain his pickets tonight.”