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Chapter 12

           Itwasthenfouro’clock. 

           "What’sthematter?"askedSirFrancis,puttingouthishead. 

           "Idon’tknow,officer,"repliedtheParsee,listeningattentivelytoaconfusedmurmurwhichcamethroughthethickbranches. 

           Themurmursoonbecamemoredistinct;itnowseemedlikeadistantconcertofhumanvoicesaccompaniedbybrassinstruments. Passepartoutwasalleyesandears.Mr.Foggpatientlywaitedwithoutaword.TheParseejumpedtotheground,fastenedtheelephanttoatree,andplungedintothethicket.Hesoonreturned,saying: 

           "AprocessionofBrahminsiscomingthisway.Wemustpreventtheirseeingus,ifpossible." 

           Theguideunloosedtheelephantandledhimintoathicket,atthesametimeaskingthetravellersnottostir. Heheldhimselfreadytobestridetheanimalatamoment’snotice,shouldflightbecomenecessary;butheevidentlythoughtthattheprocessionofthefaithfulwouldpasswithoutperceivingthemamidthethickfoliage,inwhichtheywerewhollyconcealed. 

           Thediscordanttonesofthevoicesandinstrumentsdrewnearer,andnowdroningsongsmingledwiththesoundofthetambourinesandcymbals.Theheadoftheprocessionsoonappearedbeneaththetrees,ahundredpacesaway;andthestrangefigureswhoperformedthereligiousceremonywereeasilydistinguishedthroughthebranches. Firstcamethepriests,withmitresontheirheads,andclothedinlonglacerobes. Theyweresurroundedbymen,women,andchildren,whosangakindoflugubriouspsalm,interruptedatregularintervalsbythetambourinesandcymbals; whilebehindthemwasdrawnacarwithlargewheels,thespokesofwhichrepresentedserpentsentwinedwitheachother. 

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