In this chapter, we are introduced to Kari, a five-month-old baby elephant, and his nine-year-old friend and keeper. Kari lives in a pavilion under a thatched roof, which is supported by thick tree stumps to prevent it from collapsing when Kari bumps into the poles. The young elephant consumes around sixteen kilograms (about forty pounds) of twigs per day, and the narrator, his nine-year-old keeper, takes him to the river every day for his bath. Kari enjoys being cleaned with sand and lying in the water before the narrator leads him to the edge of the jungle.
One day, while gathering twigs for Kari's meal, the narrator hears Kari's distress call and rushes to find him. The young elephant is struggling in the water, and as the narrator approaches, Kari pushes him into the water. The narrator sees a boy drowning and manages to pull him to the surface, but struggles to swim to the shore. Kari, quick to react, extends his trunk to the narrator, who eventually grabs it, allowing the elephant to pull both him and the drowning boy to safety.
Later, Kari develops a fondness for ripe bananas, which leads to some mischief. He uses his trunk to steal bananas from the family's dining room, causing confusion and blame among the household members. Eventually, the narrator catches Kari in the act and scolds him. Kari, understanding that he has done wrong, never steals from the dining room again.
The narrator explains that Kari is like a child who needs to be taught and disciplined. Kari learns commands and signals, such as 'Dhat' for sitting down and 'Mali' for walking. However, the most challenging lesson for an elephant is the master call, which takes about five years to learn. The master call is a loud, unusual sound that signals the elephant to clear a path through the jungle by pulling down trees, ultimately leading its keeper safely home.
In summary, this chapter presents a captivating and heartwarming story of the bond between a young boy and a baby elephant named Kari. It explores their adventures, Kari's growth and learning process, and the deep connection between humans and animals.