"Who will know?" said one.
"The moon will not speak," said another.
"Then, let us go and smoke."
The three approached the elephant. A bit of gymnastics and one of them
was boosted to the back of the elephant to whom this episode was more
or less familiar. Another followed; the third was pulled up, and from
the elephant's back they made the top of the wall and disappeared down
into the street. Here they paused cautiously, for two guards always
patrolled the front of the compound during the night. Presently the
three truants stole away toward the bazaars which in this desert town
occupied but a single street. Down they went into a cellar way and the
guru's curse stalked beside them. For opium is the handmaiden of all
curses.
Perhaps twenty minutes later slight sounds came from the front of the
compound wall. A rifle barrel clattered upon the cobbles. Then, over
the wall, near the elephant, a head appeared, then a body. This was
repeated four times, and four light-footed nomads of the desert lowered
themselves into the compound. They ran quickly to the gate and
noiselessly unbarred it. Outside were five more desert nomads,
gathered about the insensible bodies of the sentries.
These nine men were the dancers who had entered the town in advance of
Kathlyn. For weeks they had lain in wait for this moment. They had
spied upon the three low caste keepers and upon learning of their
nocturnal junkets into the opium den had cast the die this night.
With the utmost caution they approached the sacred elephant, took off
his chains and led him from the compound. Immediately six of the
marauders trotted far ahead toward the gate they knew to be the least
guarded. The sacred elephant, passing through the streets, attended by
three men, aroused no suspicions in any straggler who saw. So remote
was the walled city, so seemingly impregnable, and so little interfered
with that it was only human that its guardians should eventually grow
careless.
When the keepers, straggling under the fumes of the drug, returned near
daybreak, first to find the gate open, second to find their sacred
charge gone, they fled in terror; for it would be death, lingering and
painful, for them to stay and explain how and why they had left their
post.
The wild and lawless brigands knew exactly what they were about. There
were several agents of European and American circuses after this white
elephant, and as it could not be purchased there was no reason why it
could not be stolen.
When the Brahmin arrived at sunrise to find his vocation gone he set up
a wailing which awakened the household. The Khan was furious and
ordered a general search. He vowed death to the foul hands which had
done this sacrilege!