The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-12-30
jeremiah. the Rogue.


er, was in no hurry, and l saw with
chsgrin the prospect Of being de-
tanned perhaps a week for our clear
ance.
1 had nothing definite to do; my
manifest and papers were completed,
and it was with real exuItation that
I received a brief letter from Charlie
Napier, genial Britisher, who held
a comfortable government post, in
viting me to join a hunt after a
tiresome rogue elephant, which for
some time had been annoying the
people in the neighborhood Of my
friends estate.
Captain Dracutt readily granted
me two days leave of absence, and
early one sultry morning I was rowed
ashore by apatient Hindu, and start
ed for Charles residence, which was
some thirty-seven miles iLland.
The Calcutta Railway conveyed me
twenty-e eight miles Of my journey,
and at Runject, the terminus, Ifound
one of my friends servants waiting
with horse. 1t was midday, and
|scOrehing hot, so deferred continu-
ing my journey until afternoon.
Toward four o'clock we again
started, and though the heat had
moderated, it was still very oppres-
siVe. Our road lay through rich
tropical forest, with cultivated
grounds at long intervals. The jun
gle was wild, and I almost instinctly
cooked my rife as my eye distrust-
fully endeavored to pierce its thick
depths and dismal shadows.
My guide, a sedate native, spoke
English plainly. He said the wood
through which we we're travelling had
been almost freed of wild beasts;
but that the old rogue Jeremiah had
last been seen in this vicinity.
A rogue elephant, l may say, is
the outlaw of his herd-a fellow
who, for certain reasons, scorns the
peaceful, inofensive existence of
other elephants, and carries on a
guerilla warfare with men. He is
marveously cunning, a marauder, q
source of perpetual mischief; and as
every mans hand is against him,
he is against every man.
We had accomplished but seven
miles when a craunchiDg sound at
tracted my attention. The horses
picked their ears, and seemed to be
alert for danger, I turned to look at
lmy companion, who was leaning for
ward until his face almost touched
his steed's neck. The noise of the
breaking of branches and under
growth continued, and the tread
seemed that of some animal of heavy
weight. All at once the Indian
screamed jeremiah jeremiah P
and squirting his horse, dashed away
like lightning.
| A gigantic elephant quickly came
from the thicket. Ny first impulse
was to follow my companion; bat
fortunately l had often heard of the
craft of these elephants, so decided
to make a bold stand, and take my
chance. Levelling my gun, I tool
aim, and fred. The bullet missed
| his eye, and struck his forehead
With kind of shrill snort he rush
ed toward me. Freeing my feet
from the stirrups and grasping at q
projecting branch, 1 dexterously
Swung myself into a tree, as Jere-
miah, bristling with rage, charged
beneath me-
The horse few ahead. My foe re
lowering from his miscalculated
dash, again came hastily towards
the tree to which 1 Iclung. He paus-
led, and apparently debated for a
few minutes as to his best course.
Ny rife lay on the ground, and see
ling it, he deliberately crushed 1t with
his great feet. Then throwing his
trunk up, he found that I was out
of his reach, and again he seemed to
cogitate.
1 was in 8 sore predicament. A
lrogue's cunning is boundless, and 1t
is seldom he will give up his pursuit
of any objec t, when it seems within
his reach. My only hope was that
his schemes might be foiled until
assistance arrived from Charles
house, whittier hoped my attendant
had flown.
After going around the tree, and
Surveying my position, the beast
wound his trunk about the bottom
and strove with all his power to teal
lit from the ground, 1 felt it bend and
crack. The roots were relaxing
their hold upon the earth. Climb
ling among the branches, endesvor
ling to get to the next tree, l missed
my footing, and fell. Just then the
tree toppled over.
Ny time had come. The man.
moth beast, avoiding the falling
branches, with surprising agility,
lstrided towards me. Crack crack
Two shots were fred. My adverse
Try paused in bewilderment, raised
his trunk, gave shrek of rage, and
dropped to the ground with a deet
moan.
"Wen, well, old boy! You were as
near death that time as ever you
were. Had we been moment later
that old william would have trampled
you into jelly"
It was Charley who spoke, and
fin meek submission, listened to hiI
comic reproaches for keeping all the
sport" as he called my adventure
Il