A dim mysterious light was burning in the stall of the sacred animal.
By its rays I was able to see not only the hippopotamus itself, but
also the gaping hole in the skylight through which GANDERDOWN and
I had been thus fortuitously projected into its manger. The walls I
noticed were thickly panelled with gold slabs, on which were chased
mystic emblems connected with the cult of the gigantic beast. Here and
there a glittering point caught the light and gave it forth again in
a thousand fantastic iridescent rays. One of these was above my head,
and as I gazed at it I realised that it was a huge ruby of the first
water. In the manger itself were lying shivered fragments of the
skylight. I picked one of these up with all possible circumspection.
It was a magnificent piece of the very finest diamond. Without another
word I crammed all I could lay my hands upon into my pockets and those
of GANDERDOWN. Then I paused to reflect.
The situation was not an easy one. We had arrived, indeed, at our
goal; but how should we contrive to get away with our booty? No doubt
we could manage to elude the vigilance of the guards if we returned
alone. But this was not to be thought of. Either we would take the
hippopotamus with us or perish where we lay. I communicated my resolve
to my companion, and, as I expected, obtained his emphatic approval.
What then was to be done?
All this time, I should state, the huge object of our adventure was
calmly munching his evening meal of soaked rice within three inches
of the place where GANDERDOWN and I lay huddled up together. I saw
his immense jaws rise and fall with the regularity of some enormous
machine, and I was able to look right down into the cavernous recesses
of his being. His eyes twinkled occasionally with a sidelong look
at us, but he seemed calm and undisturbed, as though he felt that we
could not escape him, and that when he had done with his rice there
was a double _bonne bouche_ waiting for him in the corner of his
manger.
At this moment the shrill voice of a Muezzin sounded weirdly through
the stillness of the summer night. Three times he called?, and then
once again all was still. A minute or so afterwards I heard a dull
tramp, as of a regiment, coming towards the place in which we were
sheltered. What could it mean? I took out my watch. The hour was
fifteen minutes after midnight. And then, by a sudden effort of
memory, I remembered that the dear old MEEBHOY had told me that at
this hour every night a crowd of fanatical priests and attendants,
armed every one of them to the very teeth, came to the stable of their
sacred brute in order to take him out for an hour's promenade through
the groves and avenues that surround his shrine. The danger, then, was
imminent. If we were discovered nothing could save us, and we
should perish miserably with our prize within our grasp. My mind was
instantly made up.
"GANDERDOWN," I whispered; "have you ever been inside a hippopotamus?"
"Never; but I was once told by a dirty little urchin to get inside a
horse--why, I know not, as the attempt for a man of my size----"
"Enough of that, GANDERDOWN; you have got somehow or other to get
inside this hippopotamus."
"All right," said the major, who, as I have said, never displayed the
least trace of emotion; "all right. I suppose I had better take my
boots off," and, suiting the action to the words, he did so.
"Stay," I murmured; "have you a long leather thong?"
"Here is one," he replied, producing it; "I never travel without one.
You never know what may come in useful."
I took it from him and bade him prepare for the plunge. Nearer and
nearer sounded the tramp of the advancing priests. I judged that we
had exactly three minutes left, and I told GANDERDOWN that the next
time the animal's jaws were open to their widest he was to go down
head first, and trust to providence and me for the rest. GANDERDOWN
needed no further incitement. Kissing a locket containing a specimen
of his wife's hair he extended his arms above his head in correct
diving attitude, and, as the gigantic mouth opened slowly, sprang
forward and in a moment disappeared within this living vault. As he
did so, I passed a loop of the leather thong firmly over the beast's
lower jaw, fitting it in where there are gaps in the teeth. As I
anticipated, he did not notice this, being entirely taken up with the
surprise of receiving his human cargo. I then took the ends of the
thong in my hands, and, as the step of the leading priest sounded at
the door, I, too, leaped into the cavity in which GANDERDOWN had so
bravely preceded me.
There are some things in my life that I do not care to dwell upon.
Description, however vividly it may serve to paint the dauntless
courage that has ever borne me safe through dangers, can only give me
pain by recalling to me the horrors and the terrors through which
I had to pass. The inside of the Pink Hippopotamus was one of these
awful situations. Let it suffice to say that I found GANDERDOWN alive,
but stertorous, and that I was able to relieve him by undoing his
shirt-collar. I had my compass, I had a pair of excellent reins.
Why say more? To this day the Ghazis and Mollahs, and the tribe of
Hippo-worshippers who are still to be found inhabiting the rocky
mountain fastnesses of Jam Tirnova, have been unable to realise why
the beast they prayed to should have suddenly taken it into his head,
some forty years ago, to make straight for the Diamond City instead of
returning, as was his wont, to his gilded stall. But so it was.
* * *
When we arrived at my headquarters, after I know not how many days,
and emerged from our close confinement it was early in the morning.
But my father and the MEEBHOY were ready to welcome us.
"Sorra one av ye," said the fine old MEEBHOY, "did I ever expect to
see in this vale of sorrow, where the schemes of the wicked are like a
butter-slide in a pantomime. But I guess you've put the thing through,
my son and there's nane ither of a' that come ben the hoose that could
have played Billy the Baker's Boy with the Ranee's Pink Hippo."
[Illustration: Supporting himself on a single Tip.]
The Ranee was of course deposed, and the MEEBHOY was installed in
her place. He offered me the command of his army and a salary of two
hundred laks a year. But I had had enough of the country, and soon
afterwards left for England, taking the sacred animal with me.
Unfortunately, however, it died at sea of home-sickness, and had to
be consigned to the deep in latitude 25°1, longitude 42°3, I had grown
quite attached to the poor beast, and it used to follow me about like
a dog, making all kinds of funny noises to express its affection for
me, and eating out of my hand with remarkable tameness. Its loss was a
great blow to me.
[THE END.
* * * * *
[Illustration: THINGS BETTER LEFT UNSAID.
_Husband and Host_ (_waking up from postprandial snooze_).
"WHAT--GOING? OH, I'M AFRAID YOU MUST HAVE FOUND IT VERY DULL. I'VE
GOT A DREADFUL HABIT OF NAPPING AFTER DINNER!"
_Guest._ "_DULL_, MY DEAR FELLOW? IT'S NEVER DULL HERE WHEN _YOU_'RE
ASLEEP!"]
* * * * *