The superdrug with which the poppy had been mixed was unknown to Ramabai, but he had often witnessed tests of its potency.
It worked with the rapidity of viper venom.

Within ten minutes after the first inhalation the nine brigands sank back upon the sand, as nearly dead as any man might care to be.
At once the elephant was liberated, and the party made off toward the town.

Colonel Hare, suspicious of everything these days, marveled over the simplicity of the trick and the smoothness with which it had been turned.

He began to have hope for the future.

Perhaps this time they were really going to escape from this land accursed.
There was great powwowing and salaaming at the gate as the sacred white elephant loomed into sight.