And they thought that was so exquisitely funny that they all laughed too.
Then, when he had coughed a little more-- "We're going to attend that party!" "Why ?" I asked him.
"Two reasons." But he had to cough up more water before he could tell them.

"One: The Gray Mahatma will never rest until he knows we're dead, or done for, and the safest place is close to the enemy; and, two: I never will rest until I know the secret of that science of theirs!" "How in thunder are we going to get back ?" I objected.
"Ride!" he suggested.
"How--when--where ?" "Elephant--now--to her palace," he answered.
"They're not her elephants." "So much the better! She'll think the Maharajah knows all about us.
She'll _have_ to accord us protection after that." He asked a dozen more questions, and finally struggled to his feet.
"My friend," he said then to the chief mahout, "if you propose to take us two _sahibs_ to _her_ palace, and be back at your master's stables in time to get ready for the _Bibi-kana_, you'll have to hurry!" "But I did not propose it!" the mahout answered.
"Nay, the gods proposed it.

Which is your fastest elephant ?" "That great one yonder--Akbar.

But who is giving orders?
We are a maharajah's servants." "The gods are ordering all this business!" King assured him.

"I wish to ride to _her_ palace." "By _her_ leave ?" "By the gods' leave." "Will the gods pay me ?" "Doubtless.