The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-08-23
"Soupranany has taken them out fish

Exactly 50. You cannot nave forgot
ten Soupramany"
"Of course not. 7 was here, you know,
when be had that fight with the elephant
who went mad while loading transport
with bags Of rice down yonder. | saw the
mad elephant when he suddenly began to
fling the rice into the river. His "mahoat''
tried to stop him, and he killed the NAH
out. The native sailors ran away to hide
themselves, and the mad elephant, trump
citing, charged into this enclosure. Old
Soupramany was here, aid SO were jim
and Bess. When he saw the mad animal
he threw himself between him and the
children. The little ones and their nurses
had just time to get into the house when
the fight commenced =
"Yes, said the Major. "0ld Soup vas
hundred year old. He had been trained
to war, and to fight with the rhinoceros,
but he was too old to hunt then.
And Yet, said I, becoming animated
/ BY the recolIections Of that day, what a
gallant fight it was. "Do you remember
how We ali stood on this porch and watch
ed it, not daring to FIRE shot lest we
should hit old sounfamany? Do you re
member, too, his look whea he drew off.
after fighting an hour and hall, leaving
his adversary dying in the dust, and walk
ed straight to the Corral shaking his
great ears. which had been badly torn,
with his head bruised, and a great piece
broken from one Of his tusks p
Yes, iadeedds9 said the Major. "Nell,
since then he is more devoted to ny dear
little ores than ever. He takes them cut
whole days, and I am perfectly content to
have them under his charge, I don't like
trusting Christian children to The care Of
-atiyes; but with Old Soup know they
can come to no harm"
'What ! you trust children under ten
years Of age to Soup, without any other
protection ?n
Il dH,8 replied the Major. "Come
along with me, if you doubt, and we will
surprise them at their fishing"
followed Major DAILY, and, after walk
ing half a mile along the wooded banks Of
tie river, ne came upon the little group.
Two children-Jim, the older, being about
Io-both sat still and silent, for a wonder,
; each holding rod, with line, cork, hook,
and bait, axiously watching the gay corks
bobbing II the water. Beside them stood
old Soup with an extremely large bamboo
rod il his trunk, With line, hook, bait, and
cork, ike the childrens. | need not say
took small notice Of the children, but
turned all my intention to their biz com
panion. | had not watched him long be
fore he had bite, for, as the religion Of
the Hindoos forbids them to take life, the
river swarns with fishes.
The old fellow did not stir; his little
eyes watched bis line eagerly; he was no
novice ia the gentle craft. He was
waiting till it was time to draw in his
prize.
At the end Of his line, as he drew it up,
was dangling one Of those golden tench 50
abundant IL the Ganges.
Whensoupramany perceived what fine
fish he had caught he uttered one Of
those4ong, low, gurgling notes ofsatisfae-
ton by which an elephant expresses joy;
and he waited patiently, expecting Jim to
take his prize off the hook and put on some
more bait for him. But jim, the little
rascal, sometimes liked to plague Old
Soup. He nodded at Us, as much as to
say, 4Look out, and you'll see fun nowls'
Then he took of the fish, which he threw
into a waterjar placed there for the pur-
pose, and went pack to his place without
putting any bait on Old Soups hook. The
intelligent animal did not attempt to
throw his line into the water. lie tried to
move Jim by low, pleading cries. It was
curious to see what tender tones he seem
ed to try to give his voice.
Seeing that jim paid no attention to his
calls, but sat and laughed IS lie handled
his own Inc, Old Soup went up to him,
and with his trunk tried to turu his head
IN the dire ,tion Of the bait box. At last,
when he found that all he could do would
not induce his WiIlfal friend 10 help him,
he turned round as if struck by a sudden
thought, and saatehiag up IN his trunk the
box that held the bait, came ana laid it
down at the Majors feet; then piclsieg up
lis rod, he held it out to his master.
What do you want me to do with this,
Old Soup z said the Major.
The creature lifted ona great foot after
the other and again began to utter lis
plaintive cry. Out Of mischief, I tool jim
my part. and, picking up the bait-box,
pretended to run with it. The elephant
vac not oAin op# ~ he teasad Nv ma Ha