Toomai of the Elephants

           IwillrememberwhatIwas,Iamsickofropeandchain—

           Iwillremembermyoldstrengthandallmyforestaffairs.

           Iwillnotsellmybacktomanforabundleofsugar-cane:

           Iwillgoouttomyownkind,andthewood-folkintheirlairs.

           Iwillgooutuntiltheday,untilthemorningbreak—

           Outtothewind’suntaintedkiss,thewater’scleancaress;

           Iwillforgetmyankle-ringandsnapmypicketstake.

           Iwillrevisitmylostloves,andplaymatesmasterless!

           KalaNag,whichmeansBlackSnake,hadservedtheIndianGovernmentineverywaythatanelephantcouldserveitforforty-sevenyears,andashewasfullytwentyyearsoldwhenhewascaught,thatmakeshimnearlyseventy—aripeageforanelephant.Herememberedpushing,withabigleatherpadonhisforehead,atagunstuckindeepmud,andthatwasbeforetheAfghanWarof1842,andhehadnotthencometohisfullstrength.

           HismotherRadhaPyari—Radhathedarling—whohadbeencaughtinthesamedrivewithKalaNag,toldhim,beforehislittlemilktuskshaddroppedout,thatelephantswhowereafraidalwaysgothurt.KalaNagknewthatthatadvicewasgood,forthefirsttimethathesawashellbursthebacked,screaming,intoastandofpiledrifles,andthebayonetsprickedhiminallhissoftestplaces.So,beforehewastwenty-five,hegaveupbeingafraid,andsohewasthebest-lovedandthebest-looked-afterelephantintheserviceoftheGovernmentofIndia.Hehadcarriedtents,twelvehundredpounds’weightoftents,onthemarchinUpperIndia.