The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-01-30
THREE ELEPHANT STORIES,

Major Rodgers had been out shooting and
| had discharged all OF his guns, when an ele-
| phant made charge at him from the edge
OF the jungle. There WAS no help for it eI-
| cept to run, and for four hundred yards the
Major Kept just ahead feeling at every step
as IL the elephants trunk was trying 10
| twist itself around his loinS A turn around
= tree gave him a mOmentsry advantage.
which he made the most OF by springing up
into the branches but before he had time
to draw up is legs the elephant had got him
with his Droboscis. Still Rodgers pulled
against him thinking that it was better to
have his logs wrenched from the socket than
TO fall back bodily into the animals power
The struggle did not last long, for, to the
delight of the pursued and the chagrin of
the pursuer, the Wellington boot which the
former wore slipped OF, releasing the foot
and saving the life of poor Rogers. The
dilemma, however did not end here, for the
elephant, finding himself baked OF his prev
took up his quarters under the tree. and
5esieged his anticipated victim for twenty
four hours, when tbs country postman hap
pened to pass by. Rogers gave him notice
OF bis position and soon help came, and the
elephant was frightened away by tom-toms
and yelling. Had this occurred in n desert
ed part of the jungle. the officer must have
been starved to death In the tree.
fhera is beautiful story about an old
elephant engaged in battle on the plains OF
India. He was standard bearer, the raj
lying point OF the Poona hoss At the be-
ginning OF the fght he lost his master. -
The 'nahout,' or driver, had Just given him
the word TO halt when be received a fatal
weund and fell to the ground where he Law
under heap OF slain. The obedient ele-
phant stood still! while the battle closed
around him and the standard he carried
He meyer stirred foot, refusing to advance
or retire, as the conflict became hotter and
iercer, ana the Mahrattas seeing the stand.
ard still dying in its place, refused TO believe
they were being beaten, and rallied again
and again round the colOrs. And all this
while amid the din OF battle, the patient an
imal stood, straininR its ears to catch the
sound Of the voice 1t would never hear again.
At last the tide of conquest left the field de-
serted. The Mahrattas swept on In pursuit
OF the flying foe, but the elephant, like a
rock. stood there, with the dead and DYING
around it. and the ensign waving in its
place. For three days and three nights it
remained WI ere its master had given It the
command 70 halt, No bribe or threat could
move 1t. They then sent to q village 100
miles away, and brought the mshout's little
son. The noble hero seemed then to remem-
Der bow the driver had sometimes given his
authority to the little child, aud Immediate
ly, with all his shattered trappings claug as
he went, paced quietly and slowly away.
The native Hindoo, from want Of thought
keeps up constant drumming on the
beasts head with the gosd, or 'ankus.' 1,
therefore, hoped not to use it at all. Such
an improvement all at once, however, proved
more than the elepbantine mind could grasp.
He began really to enjoy himself, going his
own way more than mine, until at last he
walked under an immense banyan tree and
commenced to browse. He seized the
boughs overhead and tugginR violently at
them brought them down on my devoted
skull. This was toe Inuch. / raised the an.
kus and brought it down yn his head with
force that brought the blood. This had the
desired effect. and he at once buEded of
along the road he knew l wanted him to go.
He merely took with him a branch, the size
Of small apple tree, to discuss as we went
along. From that time We were friends,
and don't think 1 ever had to use the hook
again so as to bring blood.-LondoR Times.