The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-19

the sensation that Shaitan had created as he passed. As Eaton neared the town, his anxiety lest he should be to late to shoot the animal before it had done some dreadful damage became intense. To his great relief, however, he found that it had gone through the whole length of the town without injuring anything or anybody. In answer to his inquiries, the natives told him that it was gong at full speed as it passed and that the Afghan was still on its back Captain Eaton fol- lowed the elephant for several miles be. yond the town, but without overriding it. At length, he gave up the pursuit, and re- turned to the kheddah, where he imme- diately ordered several fleet elephants to be got ready, and sent them off in charge of number of steady picked men, whom he armed with rifles, to look for the es- caped elephant. He determined to fol. low them as soon as he had seen to the elephant that had been attacked and thrown down by Shaitan, and had re- stored order in the kheddah.
 | About two hours later, while the cap- tain was ard at work in the kheddah, a mahout, greatly excited. rushed in, ex- claiming: Sahib, Sahib Sh itan is com ing back, and that madman is still riding him."
 Has he been caught? Is he coming | with the other elephants?"
 No, Sahib he is coming alone, and that mad fellow is still on his back :" whereupon Eaton caught up his loaded rifle, which was leaning against the wall, and ran to the gate. He arrived there just as Shaitan entered the kheddah. But instead of furious mad creature strid- ing wildly along and trumpeting with rage there entered a quiet, silent, sub dued elephant with hanging head, imp trunk, and slow, weary step. As E E4ton raised his rifle to shoot it, the Afghan shouted |" Do not fire, Sahib. It is quiet now. l will take it to the stable and tie it up"
 Though greatly inclined to do SO, Cap- tain Eaton did not fire, but, keeping at safe distance with his eyes on it, deter mined to shoot it dead at first sign of in- tended mischief. Guided, however, by the Afghan, the creature walked slowly and quietly to its stable, and knelt at his order. The Afghan then descended from its back and made fist its legs with the chains. Having next ordered it to rise, he walked round it several times and patted it's sides, speaking encouraginely, as 1t shrank from him in evident terror Then, having arranged his disordered garments, Bux Khan stepped quietly up to where Ea.on stood and made his sa. laam.
 For the last three hours the captain had been boiling over with rage. That a strange Afghan, insane, as he supposed, should have come into the kheddah, re. leased mad elephant, and ridden off with 1t, after endangering the lives of all the people and elephants in the place, was an occurrence so extraordinary that he could scarcely find words to express his surprise and wrath. But when the same Afghan proved to be a sane man and brought the elephant back safe, quiet, and amenable to orders, his wrath changed to admiration. The mans great stature, his striking though forbidding face, his iron nerve and coolness, and the strange power he seemed to possess, im- pressed the Anglo-lndian greatly.
 Well. friend," he said, as the Afghan ashamed, you have given us great deal of trouble this afternoon, and put the lives of many people in danger"
 The Sahib gave me permission to try and tame the elephant" replied the m an quietly.
 That is true" said Captain Eaton but had supposed for moment that you were going to set it at liberty, would never have given you permission. How ever, you seem to have been successful. Will the lesson you have given him be permanent Will he remain quiet?
 While 1 am with him he will, Sahib."
 Would it be safe for me to go up to him now2"
 No, Sahib. Though he fears me, and will not attempt to attack me, it would not be so in your case. It will be dan- gerous for you or any one but myself to go near him for the present."
 "What brought you here to-day2"
 came to apply for work, Sahib."
 Well, as you have been so success full in taking the 6end out of that crea- lure, you had better remain in charge of 1t till have decided what is to be done" So saying, Eaton turned to the jemadar, | and ordered the Afghan's name to be entered on the roll of mahouts at same | rate ot pay as that drawn by Shaitan's former mahost, who was given other work. |
 After having given various other orders and had good look at the conquered | Shaitan, the captain walked of to his | bungalow. The result of his meditations | that evening over the strange events of the afternoon was that next morning he | wrote long report to government. de- | tailing what had happened, and strongly recommending that the elephant should | not be shot, as ordered, but left in charge of Bux Khan, the elephant-tamer. He, however, requested permission to shoot it at once, without waiting for the sanc- tion of government, in the event of its breaking out again. CHAPTER 1.-THE ELEPHANT-TAMER's |
 CHILD.
 Next morning Bux Khan entered on his duties as the mahout of the elephant Shaitan. According to his prediction, Gs- Al -s