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

dering crash--a sight to make any
nervous mans heart autter like a
Gagged bird, and within twenty PAGES
of me, beng 90 both barrels.
He is bit 10 the head, but not kill
ed; and madder than ever with the
sting of pain he aourishes his trunk,
trumpets forth bis wild fury, and IN
ereases his speed, to reach and crash
me ike troublesome moth. There
is nothing now for it but flight;
few seconds more, and be viii be
upon me, and | shall be among the
things that werel Fairly swinging
myself upon my horse, with an agili-
ty worthy of a Gamanche Indian, |
gave nv noble brute the spur and
rein, and away we go over the bill
at break-neck speed rocks, bushes,
and trees not once considered in our
race for life.
Seeing my danger, the coolies post
ed beyond the reach of the elephant,
now shout and scream to attract bis
attention and draw him of from the
pursuit He hears the noise, glances
upward with his fiery eyes, and turns
to seek the nearest foe. The tree Of
Luneke receives his mad favor and
rushing at it he butts it with an
awful blow with his huge tusks-a
blow that jars and shakes it like q
small earthquake, makes every limb
and leaf culver, and almost unseats
the poor fellow, who clings to it with
all his strength and hopes Of life.
Then he seizes il with his trunk, bel
lows forth his rage, exerts all his
mighty force, and bends and shakes
| it as | might bend and shake birch;
and then retreating to gather head
way. he butts it again, ripping off the
bark and goring it with his tusks, but
failing to bring down his human
prey
By this time he seems.to have for
gotten me altogether But | have
not forgotten him. Checking my
horse at safe distance, l proceed
to reload my two barrels, with zinc
balls, in the greatest possible haste
and before he is satisfied to turn and
seek another victim; / spur my horse
to a dangerous vicinity, get him quiet
for moment, just in the nick Of time,
and blaze away again, directly at the
monsters head.
This time, thank heaven, my aim
was true; and both balls go through
his thick skull, and sink into his
brain. He stops, staggers, reels
gets a dim view of me-tries to make
another charge-steps out feebly-
totters and falls with loud crash
sending forth the widest bellows of
pain, and then lies so helpless on his
side that even a child need no longer
fear him. A few half fsmothered
groans. some convulsive jerks, a
quivering throughout the great mass,
and all is over-the body and limbs
grow still, and the furious, formida-
bic, dreaded rogue elephant is dead.
4 No general, after great victory,
ever felt his triumph more triumph.
antly than did, as | quietly walked
up, seated myself on the dead mon.
ster of the wilderness, and received
like king upon his throne the con.
gratulations and praises ofmy joyful
servants, who now gathered around
me, shouting and dancing.
/ Leaving the beast in their charge
remonnted my horse and finished
NY ride. to Mango Hill Retreat
where | found Hollingsworth and
some half dozen others only wait
. ing my arrival to begin the perilou;
hunt to which I had been invited
When | told them my adventure
they could scarcely credit my story
and rode back with me to be cOnyinc
, ed of its truth. The result made {
great man of me in all my region
, and propably no one act of my lift
, ever afforded me such satisfaction
! taken in all its bearings, as my en-
, counter with, and destruction of thal
, savage rogue elephant.