ThenKalaNagreachedthecrestoftheascentandstoppedforaminute，andLittleToomaicouldseethetopsofthetreeslyingallspeckledandfurryunderthemoonlightformilesandmiles，andtheblue—whitemistovertheriverinthehollow。Toomaileanedforwardandlooked，andhefeltthattheforestwasawakebelowhim——awakeandaliveandcrowded。Abigbrownfruit—eatingbatbrushedpasthisear;aporcupine’squillsrattledinthethicket;andinthedarknessbetweenthetreestemsheheardahog—beardigginghardinthemoistwarmearth，andsnuffingasitdigged。
Thenthebranchesclosedoverhisheadagain，andKalaNagbegantogodownintothevalley——notquietlythistime，butasarunawaygungoesdownasteepbank——inonerush。Thehugelimbsmovedassteadilyaspistons，eightfeettoeachstride，andthewrinkledskinoftheelbowpointsrustled。Theundergrowthoneithersideofhimrippedwithanoiseliketorncanvas，andthesaplingsthatheheavedawayrightandleftwithhisshoulderssprangbackagainandbangedhimontheflank，andgreattrailsofcreepers，allmattedtogether，hungfromhistusksashethrewhisheadfromsidetosideandplowedouthispathway。ThenLittleToomailaidhimselfdownclosetothegreatnecklestaswingingboughshouldsweephimtotheground，andhewishedthathewerebackinthelinesagain。
Thegrassbegantogetsquashy，andKalaNag’sfeetsuckedandsquelchedasheputthemdown，andthenightmistatthebottomofthevalleychilledLittleToomai。Therewasasplashandatrample，andtherushofrunningwater，andKalaNagstrodethroughthebedofariver，feelinghiswayateachstep。Abovethenoiseofthewater，asitswirledroundtheelephant’slegs，LittleToomaicouldhearmoresplashingandsometrumpetingbothupstreamanddown——greatgruntsandangrysnortings，andallthemistabouthimseemedtobefullofrolling，wavyshadows。
\"Ai！\"hesaid，halfaloud，histeethchattering。\"Theelephant—folkareouttonight。Itisthedance，then！\"
KalaNagswashedoutofthewater，blewhistrunkclear，andbegananotherclimb。Butthistimehewasnotalone，andhehadnottomakehispath。Thatwasmadealready，sixfeetwide，infrontofhim，wherethebentjungle—grasswastryingtorecoveritselfandstandup。Manyelephantsmusthavegonethatwayonlyafewminutesbefore。LittleToomailookedback，andbehindhimagreatwildtuskerwithhislittlepig’seyesglowinglikehotcoalswasjustliftinghimselfoutofthemistyriver。