The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-08-06
Story Of an Elephant.

| Elephants have decided liking for
military life. Various regiments, Will,
serving in the East, have had such an ami
NAL, which often rendered good service t.
the corps to which he might be attached
The Kings Rangers at one time were il
| possession of fine male of enormous size
which for many years was never once alb
sent from parade. AS soon as the bugle
sounded he would walk majestically t.
| the place of muster and take up his posi-
ton, always at the right of the column.
| The mahout or driver presented him
self, the elephant would lift him up into
| his shoulders with his trunk, and evident
| but il left to his own unaided intelligence
he obeyed the ordinary words of command
without ever making mistake, such as
"Rirht Face !" "March !" mark Time y
"Halt !" and so on.
He insisted ut all times On giving help
to the men whenever they engaged in load.
ing or unloading baggage, and was pleas
ed to be allowed to make himself useful
When the wagons were impeded on
march, as not unfrequently occurred, Jock
was duly sensible of his own Importance,
for, by his enormous strength, he would
push heavy load up steep declivity,
which six or eight oxen would have failed
to do unassisted.
1t happened that the rangers were sud-
denly ordered to embark to China, and
there were no accommodations for taking
Jock on shipboard. To the great disap-
pointment of the men, the authorities de-
cided that he should be left in India. He
was, however, permitted to accompany the
regiment as far as the quay to watch the
troops as they went on board, many of
whom had parting word of kindness for
their old comrade.
"Good-by, old man !" "Pour old Jock -
were repeated, with many variations, by
both officers and men.
Meanwhile the animal watched the pro-
ceedings with great apparent interest, as
if wondering when his own turn would
come to go on board; but when the vessel
steamed off and left him ashore he became
frantic with rage and disappointment.
1t had been proposed that he should be
transferred to another corps; but he per-
sistently refused to have anything to do
with it. Neither the coaxing nor the
threats of his mahout were of any avail.
Though he had previously manifested
the gentlest disposition, he now threaten
ingly repealed all kindly advances on the
part of his new comrades, and at length
he became SO savage that it was deemed
expedient to place him in confinement
Even the mahout was several times put in
a very awkward predicament, and on one
occasion barely escaped with his life.
No means could be found to assuage the
grief or to calm the anger of this faithful
creature, who so constantly mourned the
loss of his friends; but in little less than
two years the Rangers came back to their
old quarters, and were informed of the
melancholy change in their old comrade.
mo go near-no touch sahib he strike
very hard" said the mahout; "he kill ?"
"Why, Jock, my boy" said young Of
ficer, formerly one of his special friends,
"what's the matter''
The animal pricked up his ears, and in
stantly recognized his voice, which was
proved by his manifesting unmistakeable
sounds ofjoy.
1t was quite affecting to see, when he
was once more permitted to repair to the
parade ground, with what kindly recog-
milton he made of his companions, plac-
ing his trunk tenderly on their necks and
shoulders.
need hardly say he was at once reinstat-
ed in his old regimental post, the duties
of which he recommended to discharge as
if no interruption had taken place. Cham
bers' Journal.