The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-05-30
AN ELEPHANT HUNT.

our basket Of provisions, aud our body
servants rode behind US, with palm leaf
umbrellas to suielI US from the rays OIL
the sun. L.i... a.
A Jew hours travelling, under the
guidance Of Tamby, brought us to a
Jungle, through the dense foliage, Of
which the SUMS rays scarcely penetrat-
reached the borders of a small lake,
around which dense thorny Jungle W as
growing, and it would be an uGLer i'm
possibility to penetrate through it with
out being almost torn to pieces; but
which Afforded safe retreat fur ele-
plants aud other animals, upon whose
thick hldes the thorns would have no eff
lect. Tamby informed US that we HAD
reached the haunt Uf the \gue-elephant;
and, dtsmounting from oAt horses they
were led by our attendaSts to cool,
shady spot, and allowed to Eraze.
We laid in wait for him Oyer half an
hour, buL no elephant made his appear.
ance. Tamby was considerably cha
grined at his want of success, and when
l proposed to enter the jungle he did
not oppose 1T very strongly, merely say
Ing, 'sahlb, me know plenty men get
kliled so."
But Dave was as an xious as myself to
have shot at any risk, and we prepared
TO enter the jungle by Crawling on our
| hands and knees. We had to trail our
rifles alter US, and was anything but
pleasant working our way through. At
any moment a COBRA di capello might
spring upon us or the small ground SER
pent sting us, resulting in quick and
horrible death. But 1t was 100 late to
think Of backing out now, and we
pressed slowly on, making as little noise
as possible.
Suddenly Tamby. stopped and mo-
and heard the leaves rustling. Cooking
our rifles, Dave and l peered through
the jungle, but 80 dense was the foliage
that we could not see thing. There
were no trees or anything that would
afford us shelter in case the animal was
not killed by our tirsL shots. Suddenly
we heard peculiar s'prur-r-r," followed
by a snrlll trumpeting sort OF noise and
"a terrible crashing sound, such as only
an elephant could make. -,..
"Fire, when you see him, DayeW l
shouted, fully alive to our danger.
"SahlD, sahibl' shouted Tamby; "two,
three, four elephant-all run quickw
{ But thls was easier said tnan done.
| It's true the elephants had made sort
OF lane of palh through the therny
closed up near enough to tear our
6lolhes 10 tatters, aud lacerate our skins,
the pain oil which we did not feel at the
| time, 80 intense was our excitement as
we dashed through the Jungle after
them, Tamby using his hatcheG TO good
effect on the creepers and vines in our
road. .. .-- nt
The elephants were flying at great
rate, and we could hear them crashing
along, the, noise growing fainter and
fainter. Tamby cautioned US to be
ready, for at any moment one OF them
might dash upon US. ...
II was now getting terribly hot, and
the perspiration ran off Inc in streams.
At last we were gratihed by the sight of
an elephant ahead of us, jogging along
through the jungle al medium rate OF
speed. .. ... ...a..
"Now, Harry, the sport commencesp
and, with a reckless shout, Dave
pressed on. ..
We at last came to a clear space, COM
prislng several acres, covered with a
nigh growth of lemon grass. Not an ele-
phant could be seen, and l Was looking
In every direction, when a scream from
Tamby, followed by "Sahlb, sahib, look
defe; elephant comesp' caused me to
turn In the direction Indicated.
An immense elephant, who looked
every inch the one we wanted, with his
trunk high in the air, ears cooked and
tail streaming out, came bursting out OF
the grass, flushing straight toward me.
Screaming with rage, he advanced at an
awful pace; to escape was impossible
the grass was no impeachment to him,
but a terrible one to me. Dave, who had
wandered of some distance, In his
eagerness to get d shot, had heard
Tamby's shout, and was slowly work.
ing his way back; hut the elephant, in
two minutes, would be upon me, and l
really Thought my last moment had
come. The sensations that came over
me were terrible in the extreme; but
with steady aim, and nerves like steel
leveled my rifle at the rogue. On he
came, with speed far greater than
supposed an elephant was master OF.
In another moment, with scream OF
rage and triumph, he stood within three
feet OF me, and fired Iull at his ugly.
looking head, at the same time jun ..
ing to one side under cover OF the smoke J.;
but too late to escape q blow from his
powerful trunk. Like a cannon-ball
snot from a cannon, felt myself hurled
through the air, anu landed about IF.
teen yards from the elephant. on pile
of grass and leaves. He had struck me
on the thigh, and thought my leg was
broken. For moment l was bewil
de.ed, but l heard the huge monster
beating about the grass in search OF me-
and bitterly regretted my folly In COM
: ing after rogue-alephaut.
/ laid still as death, not daring to
groan, nor scarcely breathe. Tamby
mad disappeared, and Dave was no
where to be seen. Round and round he
walked, beating the grass aud earth ir
his lmpotent rage ana fury. Suddenly
heard the report OF rife. saw The
elephant striko convulslvely once OF
twice in the air, stagger few steps, ant
then, with a shock that shook the earth
he fell, crushing every thing around him
At that instant, objects Became indis
tinct, and swan before my eyes, ant
when consciousness again returned,
found my self on litter, beside the LITTLE
lake, and Dave was bending over Inc
anxiousiy, bathing my face with water
Are you much hurt, Harry" he III
quired anXiously.
: "No, think not" ! Ireplied; "thougl
1 feel terribly shaken.N
"Nu doubt of that; thought you wer,
, killed at first"
"Twas narrow escape, anyhow"
: The numbness had lett my leg, but th,
main was still severe, Luckily no bone