It was just as though the beast had understood the words and were considering them.

If so, their effect was to rouse him to perfect madness.

He screamed terribly; he lashed his sides with his trunk; his red and wicked eyes rolled; foam flew from the cavern of his open mouth; he danced upon his great feet, a sort of hideous Scottish reel.

Then he charged! I shut my eyes for a moment.

When I opened them again it was to see poor Marut higher in the air than ever he flew before.