Luckily I remembered
that three or four elephants were still lying in the field, having been
killed by us in the first action, two days before. Necessity, thought
I, has no law; my adorable girl must eat elephant, until she can get
something better.
I rushed into the court where the men were, for the most part,
assembled. "Men," said I, "our larder is empty; we must fill it as we
did the day before yesterday. Who will follow Gahagan on a foraging
party?" I expected that, as on former occasions, every man would offer
to accompany me.
To my astonishment, not a soul moved--a murmur arose among the troops;
and at last one of the oldest and bravest came forward.
"Captain," he said, "it is of no use; we cannot feed upon elephants for
ever; we have not a grain of powder left, and must give up the fort when
the attack is made to-morrow. We may as well be prisoners now as then,
and we won't go elephant-hunting any more."
"Ruffian!" I said, "he who first talks of surrender, dies!" and I cut
him down. "Is there any one else who wishes to speak?"
No one stirred.
"Cowards! miserable cowards!" shouted I; "what, you dare not move for
fear of death, at the hands of those wretches who even now fled before
your arms--what, do I say YOUR arms?--before MINE!--alone I did it; and
as alone I routed the foe, alone I will victual the fortress! Ho! open
the gate!"
I rushed out; not a single man would follow.
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