The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-07

"Soupramany has taken them out fish
ing" said their father.
s"'Why, isn't Soupramany your great war
elephant2" cried.
"Exaotly SO. You cannot have forgot
ten Soupramany!"
"Of course not was here, you know,
when he had that fight with the elephant
who went mad while loading transport
with bags of rice down yonder. 1 saw the
mad elephant when lie sud enly began to
| fling the rice into the river. His 'mahout'
tried to stop him, and he killed the mnhout.
The native sailors ran away to hide them
selves, and the mad elephant, trumpeting,
charged into this enclosure. Cd Sou
promGny was here, and SO were Jim and
Bess. When he saw the mad animal he
threw himself between linn and the child
rem. The little ones and their nurses had
Just time to get into the house when the
fight commenced"
eyes" said the Major. cold Soup was
hundred year old H hal been train d
to war, AMI to fight with the rlin, ,ceros,
but he was too old to hunt then"
"And yet" said I, becoming animated
by the recollections of that day, ''what
gallant fight it was. Do you remember
how we all stood on this porch and watched
it, not daring to fire n shot lest we should
hit Old Soupramany? Do you remember,
too, his look when he drew off, after fight
ing an hour and half, leaving his adver-
sary dying in the dust, and walked straight
to the corral, shaking his great ears, which
had been badly torn, with his head bruised,
and great piece broken from one of his
tusks ?"
Yes, indeed" said the Major. "Well.
since then he is more devoted to my dear
little ones than ever. He takes them out
whole days, and am perfectly content to
have them under his charge, | don't like
trusting Christian children to the care of
natives; but with Old Soup 1 know they
can come to no harm"
"What! you trust children under ten
yearssof age to Soup, without any other
protection?"
81 do," replied the Major "Come along
with me, if you doubt, and we will surprise
them at their fishing"
followed Majoy DAILY, and, after walk
ing half mile along the wooded banks OF
the river, we came upon the little group.
Two children-Jim, the elder, being about
10-both sat still and SILENT for wovder,
each holding a rod with line, cork, hook,
and bait, anxiopsly watching the gay corks
bobbng in the water. Beside them stood
old Soup with an extremely large bamboo
rod in his trunk, with line, hook, bait, and
cork, like the children's. need not say
took small notice of the children, but
turned all my attention to their big COM
panon. l had not watched him long be-
fore he had bite, for, as the religion of
the Hindoos forbids them TO take life, the
river swarms with fishes.
The old fellow did not stir; his little
eyes watched his line eagerly; he was no
novice in 'the gentle craft" He was
waiting till it was time to draw in his
prize.
At the end of his line, as he drew 1t up,
was dtnging one of those golden tench SO
abundant in the Ganges.
When SouprAmany perceived what fine
fish lie had caught, he uttere one of those
long, low, gurgling notes of satisfaction by
which i'm ELEPHANT expresses joy; and he
waited patiently, expecting jim to take his
prize of the hook and put on some more
bait for him But Jim, the little rascal,
E sometimes liked to plague Oh Soup. He
nodded at us, as much as to say, "Look
out, and you'll see fun now!" Then he
took off the fish, which he threw into a
water jar placed there for the purpose, and
7 went pack to his place without putting any
bait on Old Soups hook. The int llg Mt
animal did not attempt to throw his line
into the water. He tried to move Jim by
low, pleading cries. 1t was curious TO see
? what tender tones he seemed to try to give
his voice.
S eing that Jim paid no attention to his
calls, but sat and laughed as he handled
his own line, Ola Soup went up to him,
s and with his trunk tried to turn his head in
the direction of the bait box. At last, when
. lie found that all he could do would not
. induce his willful friend to help him, he
turned round as if struck by sudden
g thought, and snatching up in his trunk the
q box that held the bait, came and laid il
down at the Majors feet; then picking ul
: his rod, he held it out to his master.
: "What do you want me to do with this,
: Old Soup" said the Major.
: The creature lifted one great foot afte,
t the other, and again began to utter hit
:. plaintive cry. Ous of mischief, took Jim
> my's part, and, picking up the bait-box
= pretended to run with it. The elephant
It was not going to be teased by me. HI
o dipped his trunk into the Ganges, and il
II an instant squirted stream of water ovel
me with all the the force and precision of {
. fire engine, to the immense amusement O.
d the children.
= The Major a. once made Soup a sign v
o stop, and, TO make my peace with the fin
/. old fellow, baited his hook myself
Quivering with joy, as baby does wher