THE EARTHQUAKE ELEPHANT At the end of a minute's examination I began to suspect that King was not quite dead, so I recalled the old life-saver's drill and got to work on him.

It took time.

As King came more and more to his senses, and vomited a bit, and began to behave in all ways like a living man again, I had a chance to talk to the mahouts; and they were just like the members of any other union, preferring conversation to alleged hard labor any day of the week.

They told me why the elephants were being washed so early and we enjoyed a regular _conversazione_ on the beach.
It appeared the elephants were wanted to take part in a procession, and for a while they let me guess what sort of a procession.

But at last they took compassion on my ignorance.
"_She_ has issued invitations to a party for princesses in _her panch mahal_!" Who was _she_?
Everybody knew who _she_ was! "The Princess Yasmini ?" I suggested.
Whereat they all chuckled and made grimaces, and did everything except acknowledge her name in public.
And then suddenly Athelstan King decided to sit up and spat some more water out and tried to laugh.