`` What did Petersen Sahib mean by the elephant dance ? '' he said , at last , softly to his mother . Big Toomai heard him and grunted . `` That thou shouldst never be one of these hill buffaloes of trackers . That was what he meant . Oh , you in front , what is blocking the way ? '' An Assamese driver , two or three elephants ahead , turned round angrily , crying : `` Bring up Kala Nag , and knock this youngster of mine into good behavior . Why should Petersen Sahib have chosen me to go down with you donkeys of the rice fields ? Lay your beast alongside , Toomai , and let him prod with his tusks . By all the Gods of the Hills , these new elephants are possessed , or else they can smell their companions in the jungle . '' Kala Nag hit the new elephant in the ribs and knocked the wind out of him , as Big Toomai said , `` We have swept the hills of wild elephants at the last catch . It is only your carelessness in driving . Must I keep order along the whole line ? '' `` Hear him ! '' said the other driver . `` We have swept the hills ! Ho ! Ho ! You are very wise , you plains people . Anyone but a mud-head who never saw the jungle would know that they know that the drives are ended for the season .
Therefore all the wild XXXXX to-night will -- but why should I waste wisdom on a river-turtle ? ''
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