The three keepers whispered and chuckled among themselves.
"Who will know ?" said one.
"The moon will not speak," said another.
"Then, let us go and smoke." The three approached the elephant.

A bit of gymnastics and one of them was boosted to the back of the elephant to whom this episode was more or less familiar.

Another followed; the third was pulled up, and from the elephant's back they made the top of the wall and disappeared down into the street.

Here they paused cautiously, for two guards always patrolled the front of the compound during the night.

Presently the three truants stole away toward the bazaars which in this desert town occupied but a single street.