The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-11-16
AN ADVENTURE IN INDIA.

ssYour turn now, captain" was the eXclama-
ton of several parties, who were seated round
the convyial board, telling stories, narrating
adventures, singing songs, and drinking each
others heaths.
"What will you have, gentlemen ?"-in-
qmred Captain , small, wiry man of
middle age, who mad seen service 10 India.
ooh, one of your most thrilling adventures"
said one OF the party; ''for surely you must
have had some, while stationed in that wild
region which is SAID 10 TEEN with hem"
''Ah very well, gentlemen-I remember
one that think that will interest you, and
here you have it. 1t was in the year 1873,
that jolned my regiment, as sub, at Banga-
lore, and not being used to such climate,
where the mercury runs up TO 10 degs. in the
spring, with no idea OF coming down agein tlll
autumn, soon found myself an invalid, and
almost cursed the day that | had been tempted
to leave cool old Engand for such a swelterlng
country. Some of my friends advised trip to
the MaIa5ar coast. and was nothing 10th 20 try
any change, believing even the worst l could
possibly make must be for the better. SO l
procured palanquin, and eight good bearers,
10 take a turn ABOUT, and set off torth%It
through as wild a country as poor mortal could
wish to see.
"Nothing remarkable happened till we en-
tered what is known ;he Wynatd Jungle,
aud If nothing had happened there | should
I have been tempted 10 IndIte the whole country Y
as a libel on appearances. Such jungle as
that may never behold agaiG Reeds, weeds,
| grass, orambes, and bushes were in;erlaced
| like a network beneath gigantic trees OF teak.
who's COWS Interlocked aud canopled the whole,
| so that n many places the bright sunshine OF
l-aNrfI newer PrurUrarvIl " ttTe ratIh ds a.
borne along IN my Palagquin, on the shoulders
OF tour tImid coolies, while the other four wal
! ked lelsurely behind, had the satlsfa ction OF
knowing l was IN perfect wilderness Inhablt-
1 ed by wild elephants. wild b0aTs, tigers, loop
/ ards, hyenas, lackais, and any number OF deadly
| reptiles, and That If we We're attacked, by any
fetocious beast, should probably be deserted on
! the instant and left to take care OF myself. And
! then fancy me at night, with all these bowling
! beasts around me, attempting to sleep, amid all
| the poisonous eXhalatlons OF mataTlOuS region,
with millions, OF mosquitoes, motha aud bugs,
! hummlng, buZzlng, and perioraung every pore
OF body, and YOU will form some faint idea OF
! The pleasures of sick mans Journey.
''Weli, one hot, suitTy afternoon, when we
! had reached somewhere near the heart Of this
juuge, as ] was leaning back on the seat OF my
| palanquIn, and dreamiy listening to the drowsy,
| monotonous song oil the bearers, was Suddenly
reused aud startled by two or three hoarse
! trumpet blasts, which proceeded from wild
elephant, who was crashing through the jange
/ at no grrat distance but before had Sine for
a word, my attendaQts dropped me without
/ ceremony, and betook themselves 10 flight.
] F,at ind Of dol
! and, knowing there was not a minute between
me and eternity il | remand where then,
! plunged into the coPSe, and ran like madnan
| IN the direction opposite TO the sounds o. my
advancing toe.
! fortunately tor me, | was only few sec
onds in reaching he foot Of large teak tree,
| up which | began to CLIMB as only man may
| climb for life. heard the monster crushing
! down the bushes, and making the very earth
tremble under his powerful tread, and | went
Up, up, up, faster than l ever climbed a tree
| Before or ever shall again, with every stitch
| of clothes upon me- completely saturated with
! the perspration wrung from me 10 an agony
! of fear-not so much the natural fear of death
| itself, as the instructive fear OF such death.
| 81 think the animal must have turned from
direct course before espyrng me for though
close upon me, as supposed, when began to
/ climb, / succeeded IN reaching the first limb,
/ at l~ast some thirty feet from the earth, when
/ h. male his appearance at the foot OF the tree,
snorling and believing in the most terrific
manner. Seeing me beyond his reach, he
| lashed himself into perfect fury, his compare
lively small, pig like eyes shooting CLEANS OF
! fire as he sthem upwards IN his dsaPPoIn-
ted rage. Then laying hold of the tree with
his trunk, ne tried his strength in shaking il
but as it was too heavy for him 10 eudanger my
! position by that means, he soon rrhnqulshed 1t
for another. Quietly stepping back a few
PAGES, he measured his ground and then with
a sudden bound forward, he struck the tree a
tremendous blow with his head and tusks. |
was watching him closely, but only barely
comprehended his design in time TO throw my
arms and legs around a limb, and brace myself
for the shock. Nor was | at all too we'll pre-
pared for the conclusion bruised me con-
siderable, and it seemed to me as # a few
pounds more force must have sent me clean
from off my perch.
"But my enemy was not done yet. Step
ping back and looking up at me with an ex-
preston that seemed TO inquire what thought
of il, al the same time thai he would assure me
OF lis being only the BEGINNING oiihls batterIng