The Pagan worshipper of Brahma or Vishnu was no longer alone in his superstitious imaginings.

His young Christian companions were almost equally victims to a belief in the supernatural.

They comprehended well enough what had caused the destruction of the house.
Though the author of that mischief was nowhere to be seen, they knew it was the elephant.

There was no alternative but to accept that explanation; and it was not the act itself that was awing them, but the contemplation of the human-like, or rather demon-like, intelligence that had guided the animal thither, and instructed it to this act of retribution, perhaps only preliminary to a still greater one.
Though the work of devastation could not have been completed many minutes before their arrival, the elephant appeared to have gone away from the ground.

At east, it was not to be seen anywhere near the spot; and it is needless to say that it was carefully looked for.