Adrian began to wonder if the shocks he had already received that morning had unhinged his mind. It was bad enough having to cope with an acrobat, without finding himself suddenly saddled with, of all things, an elephant. Then, suddenly, he had an awful suspicion.
Whats its name? he asked hoarsely.
Rosy, said the carter, leastways, thats what they told me.
At the sound of her name the elephant swayed to and fro gently and uttered a small squeak, like the mating cry of a very tiny clarinet. She was shackled inside the dray by two chains padlocked round her front legs, and they made a musical clanking noise when she moved. She stretched out her trunk seductively towards Adrian and blew a small puff of air at him. Oh God, thought Adrian, Id much rather it was a drunken acrobat.
Look here, he said to the carter, what am I going to do with her?
That, said the carter with ill concealed satisfaction, is your problem, mate. I was merely engaged to deliver er and deliver er I ave. So now, as I avent ad any breakfast, if youll kindly remove er from me van, Ill be on me way.
But you cant just leave me in the street with an elephant, Adrian protested.
Why not? enquired the carter simply.
But I cant take her in there, said Adrian wildly, gesturing at Mrs. Dredges six foot square front garden. She wont fit, for one thing . . . and shed tread all the plants down.
Ar, you should ave thought of that before you ordered er, said the carter.
But I didnt order her. She was left to me by my uncle, said Adrian, reflecting as he said it how very unlikely the whole thing sounded.
E couldnt ave liked you very much, said the carter.
Look, do be sensible, Adrian pleaded. You cant just stick an elephant down in front of me and then go off and leave me.
Now you look ere, said the carter in a shaking voice, his face growing purple, I was engaged to transport an elephant. It was foolish of me, I know, but there we are. Ive been on the go all night. Every pub we passed she nearly ad the dray over. Its the worst ruddy journey Ive ever ad in twenty-four years experience as a carter. And now all I want to do is to get rid of er as quickly as possible. So if youll kindly remove er, Ill be on me way.
Even if he succeeded in getting Rosy into Mrs. Dredges front or back garden, Adrian though; how was he to explain the sudden appearance of an elephant? It was too much to hope that Mrs. Dredge would not notice her. But something had to be done, for the carter was adamant and growing more and more purple and restive with each passing moment. Then Adrian had an idea Pucklehammer, he thought, Pucklehammers yard. That would be the place to take her.
Look, said Adrian desperately to the carter, can you take her down the mad a bit? Ive got a friend whos got a yard. We can put her in there.
The carter sighed deeply. See ere, he said, Ive delivered your elephant to you. I was not asked to deliver it anywhere else but ere.
But its only just down the road, and itll be worth a sovereign to you, said Adrian.
Well, thats different, said the carter and he slammed the doors of the dray, shutting off the sight of Rosy, who had picked up a small wisp of straw in her trunk and was daintily fanning herself with it. The carter shouted to his horses, they strained forward, and the massive dray rumbled down the road, with Adrian pacing feverishly beside it, endeavouring to persuade himself that there was nothing Mr. Pucklehammer would like better than an elephant in his yard. He left the carter in the street and went into the yard. Mr. Pucklehammer was still sitting on the coffin, consuming yet another pint of beer.
Hello, boy, he said jovially, got your acrobat?
Mr. Pucklehammer, said Adrian in a low, controlled voice, youve got to help me. You are, indeed, the only person I can turn to in what is rapidly becoming a nightmare.
Why, whats happened, boy?
She . . . it . . . has arrived, said Adrian.
Whats she like? enquired Mr. Pucklehammer with interest.
She . . . Rosy, said Adrian, is an elephant.
An elephant? said Mr. Pucklehammer, and whistled. Thats a bit of a problem for you.
You could put it that way, said Adrian coldly.
An elephant, repeated Mr. Pucklehammer thoughtfully. Well, well. That is a bit of a facer.
Im inclined to agree with you, said Adrian. What Im to do with her I just dont know, but all I do know is that the wretched man who brought her, not unnaturally wants to get rid of her. She wont fit in Mrs. Dredges garden, so Ive had to bring her here. Will you let me keep her in your yard for a bit, until I decide what to do?
Yes, yes, boy, of course, said Mr. Pucklehammer readily, plenty of room here. Never had an elephant here, come to think of it. Itll make a bit of a change.
Thank God, said Adrian fervently, Im most grateful to you. He went back into the road where the carter appeared to be melting steadily into his handkerchief.
Its all right, said Adrian, she can come in here.
The carter threw open the doors of the dray, and Rosy uttered a pleased squeal at the sight of her friends.
eres the keys, said the carter, handing them to Adrian. one for each padlock.
Is she tame? asked Adrian nervously, realising that up until that moment he had had no experience with elephants.
I think so, said the carter. Youll soon find out though, wont you?
Perhaps I ought to get it something to eat, said Adrian. keep it occupied. What do they eat?
Buns, said Mr. Pucklehammer, who was peering at Rosy with interest.
Do be sensible, said Adrian irritably. Where am I going to find a bun at this time of the day?
Ow about oats? suggested the carter.
No, no, its buns they eat, said Mr. Pucklehammer.
I do wish youd stop gassing on about buns, said Adrian in exasperation, we havent got any buns.
How about a cheese sandwich? said Mr. Pucklehammer. Ill go and get one and well try.
He returned presently with a large cheese sandwich, which he handed to Adrian. Very cautiously, holding the sandwich in front of him as though it were a weapon, Adrian approached Rosys vast grey bulk.
Here you are then, Rosy, he said hoarsely. Nice cheese sandwich . . . good girl.
Rosy stopped swaying and watched his approach with twinkling eyes. When he was within range she stretched out her trunk and, with the utmost speed and delicacy, removed Adrians bowler bat and placed it on her own massive domed head. Alarmed, Adrian jumped back, dropped the sandwich and trod heavily on the carters foot. This did not improve the carters already frayed temper. Picking up the sandwich Adrian approached Rosy again.
Here you are, Rosy, he said in a trembling voice, nice sandwich. Languidly Rosy reached out her trunk again, took the sandwich from Adrians shaking fingers, and inserted it into her mouth which lookedto Adrians startled gazethe size of a large barrel. Faint grinding and slushing noises indicated that the elephant did eat cheese sandwiches. Hastily, while her mouth was full, Adrian went down on his knees, undid the padlocks and removed the shackles from Rosys legs.
There we are, he said, backing out of the dray. Come along then . . . good girl.
Rosy sighed deeply, took off the bowler hat and fanned herself with it, but apart from this gave no indication that she intended to vacate the dray.
Im normally a patient man, said the carter untruthfully, but I would like to point out, while youre stamping about all over me feet and stuffing that elephant on sandwiches, that I avent ad so much as a bite to eat this morning.