The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-10-21

to Mango Hill Retreat, distant ten
miles, with three coolies running
alongside and keeping pace with my
gallop: and as ! dash along
let me tell you what the term "rogue
elephant" means, in case you have
never heard Of it before.
In the forests and jungles of Cey-
lon at the time | lived there, there
were hundreds and thousands of wild
elephants, which generally moved
about in small herds, and were not
usually dangerous to man, though
quite destructive to property-so
much so that the government had
set price upon the head of each.
In herds, as ] have said. these huge
animals were but little feared, even
by thenatives: but it occasionally so
happened, from what cause l have
never been able to learn, that an old
tusker would become detached from
his companions, and like maddened
human Malay, seemed to devote the
remainder of his life to running a
muck-or, in other words, to attack
ing and killing every living thing he
could reach, whether man or beast ;
and all from pure maliee-from an
internal fury that nothing but his
own death could appease. With one
of these furious monsters abroad, no
one was safe. Fences were no barrier
to his progress: q coolie hut might
be crushed like shell of an egg; a
bungalow be brought crashing about
the ears of its master; and even q
whole village has been half destroyed
and the inhabitants put to fight by a
single beast. In the language of the
country, this dangerous animal was
termed a rogue elephant, though mad
elephant would have been by far q
more appropriate appellation. When
one of these was abroad, it was the
duty of every man, as this note to
me expressed, to turn out and hunt
him to the death and was now
Fastening forward to perform the
part of good citizen.
When about half way between my
house and Hollingsworth's, in a wild,
romantic part of the country, just
where the road or path / was pursu-
ing led down into q dark valley,
across bright stream into strip Of
level jungle, the coolies running at
MY side suddenly stopped and yelled
out in terror, pointing to some huge
fresh footprints, that the rogue ele-
phsnt has just passed.
How do you know these impress
sions were not made yesterday"
inquired, stopping to examine them.
''See master" returned a bright
eyed fellow, called Luneke, pointing
to the bushes against which the huge
body of the animal had pressed
"him brush of dew"
"Ah, very true-you are right.
Well thsu, be may be near: and
perhaps we may meet and conquer
him alone, which would be triumph
indeedl"
"Him plenty much sayage-fght
like much dev:l,n rejoined Luneke
looking timorously around at hi:
timid companions, evidently willing
to forego all glory which could only
be gained at SO much personal risk.
"But i have my rife" said /
1.-TWO barrels-zinc bslls-and ] an
a pretty sure shot; and if i can 6nt
him am determined to try my hand
devil or no deyilp'
Just at this moment, as ii in an
swer to my challenge, there came
loud, belIowing, trumpeting roar from
the deep jungle before me, followed
by the rustlng, swapping snd crash
ing sound of some tremendous bodl
making a quick way through dens
thicket.
Him a coming him q coming,
cried the frightened coolies; and the
ali suddenly vanished like the witche
of Macbeth, but rather in thic
forest, than "thin air." leaving me +
run or stay, as inclination nigh
prompt.
/ must confess that inclination
pleaded for an inglorious retreat, AM
my gallsnt steed was evidently 0
the same mind, for he wheeled, rear
ed, plunged, and would have gon'
on like a shot, if l had not sawe'
him down to a fine dance How
could | shoot from the back of such
beastg
Whiz fash rush what is that
A spotted deer passes me like Dol
of lightning, scared by that terrif
trumpeting, which makes even tn
boldest beast Of the forest tremble
Shall / stand and wait the onset
for be is evidently coming this way
and will soon be here. No, my hors
ic too restiye-the ground too uDcer
tain-better first get view of th'
monster from the top OF yonder hill
Away / 90, horse and rider Of on
mind this time, and in minute
have wheeled upon an elevation tha
overlooked the spot where / frs
heard the answering challenge Q
eyerybody's foe. There be comes
tusks first, and huge ones too, show
ing be is an old bull-trunk up, trump
eting out de6ance-eyes fiery re,
and awfully wicked, and tail lashinl
bis sides in fury. Thank heavel
there is some distance between us
and | have yet a chance of fight o.
fight
Better run much, else climb tre'
good deal, master" says a yoic
over my head: snd looking up in sur
prise, / see Luneke snugly posted il
the upper branches Of a tall tree
another glance showed lis compan
ions similarly situated to the righ
ard left of him.
III fight the elephant | must de
pend on myself and horse, and eoun
nothing on my servants, or any hu
man aid. Am prepared for tn
riskg / look down at the mad beast
and be looks up at me, and then with
oat half the consideration that
have taken in the matter, forward ht
comes, crushing the branches, snap
ping.the smaller trees like pipe stem;
bent on my destruction 1t is littl
too much Of the dare-of the bravad
to suit my easily excited and nc
over amiable temperament; and 81