Wild beasts always follow a track
through the jungle, even a man-made road, in preference to forcing a way
through the undergrowth for themselves. As he was borne swiftly along, his
rider felt that, although the elephant had allowed him to mount to his
accustomed place, it would resent any attempts at restraint or guidance.
But indeed Dermot had no wish to control it. He was filled with an immense
desire to learn the mystery of Badshah's frequent disappearances. The Major
was convinced that the animal had a definite objective in view, so
purposeful was his manner. For he went rapidly on, never pausing to feed,
unlike the usual habit of elephants which, when they can, eat all their
waking time. But Badshah held straight on rapidly without stopping. He was
proceeding in a direction that took him at an angle away from the line of
the Himalayas, and the character of the forest altered as he went.
Near the foot of the hills the graceful plumes of the bamboo and the broad
drooping leaves of the plantain, the wild banana, were interspersed with
the vivid green leaves and fruit of the limes. Then came the big trees,
from which the myriad creepers hung in graceful festoons. Here the
undergrowth was scanty and the ground covered with tall bracken in the open
glades, which gave the jungle the appearance of an English wood.
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