Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-13

WINS about to seize the Afghan, IN order
10 drag him out Of the stable. when the
elephant suddenly rose to his feet. 1t
Was 100 late. Its fore-legs and one
hind-leg were free, and the Afghan was
busy uncoupling the chain on its other
leg. Shouting "Run, run, all Of you,
Captain Eaton darted out Of the stabl'.
and ran at the top Of his speed to his
bungalow, outside the kheddah, to get
his rife, in the hope OF being able to
shoot the elephant before it did any
damage. Another moment and tho
huge beast was free. As the last cham
fell from his leg the Afghan sprsng for
ward, and, scizing the animal again by
the ear, shouted in stentorian tones,
"Kneel down: kneel down "
With a mulIled rumble, half OF fear
and half Of rage, the elephant knelt for
a moment on its hind knees. Leapins
on 10 its bent leg, the Afghan clam
bered on to its back, and in another
moment was firmly seated on its Shout
ders, with his legs securely twisted into
the chain around its neck. A moment
later Shaitan strobe out OF the stable
into the open yard, with the Afghan on
its back, and with head erect, extended
trunk and fiery eyes, ready to do bat
lie with all creation. Its first effort
was to get rid of its rider. Standing
in the open, with one leg uplifted, it
endeayored to shake the Afghan off;
but. though his turban flew one way
and his knife another, and his waist
band was shaken loose, the Afghan
kept his seat through the grip he had Of
the neck-chain with his legs. The in
slant the elephant stopped its efforts to
shake him off, the Afghan raised his
driving. hook, which he had never let
20. and dealt some blows on Sbaitan's
head. Confused and maddened, Shaitan
turned round and round, squealing with
rage and fear.
Meanwhile the whole kheddah was
in the utmost confusion, and the uproar
tremendous. All the elephant attend
ants had 1ed-some outside the khed-
dah, and others into the buildings IN
the yard-dragging their wives and
children with them, while the rest had
climbed on to the roofs of the sheds or
on to the walls. The elephants tethered
in the sheds, excited by Shaitan'S furi-
Gus believing. were trumpeting shriliy
in response and straining heavily at
their ropes and chains. The trembling
elephant attendants, looking on from
places Of safety, expected every moment
to see some huge tusker break loose,
and what would happen then they knew
only TOO well-a battle.royal between
it and Shaitan.
Suddenly, with an ear-piercing trum-
pet, Shaitan rushed across the yard
to where, tethered with two others,
stood sick elephant, quiet and list
less. With one blow Shaitan Knocked
it down on its side. 1t then lowered
its head to drive its tusks into the pros
trate elephant; but upon being chas-
tised by its rider, the Afghan, it re-
coiled, and again attempted, tho igh
unsuccessiully, to shake him of.
Another attempt to attack the other
elephants in the shed was frustrated by
the Afghan in similar way. All at once,
with head up and ears cooked, and tail
stiff out behind, Shaitan turned an
made straight across the yard for the
great gate of the kheddah. BY Captain
EatOn's order the gate had been shut
and pOnderous wooden bars drawn
across it. Seeing the elephant coming,
the men on the top Of the walls AMI
sheds shouted in order to try and turA
it. 1t went straight for it, however.
There was tremendous shock, lou |
crash, and the next moment Shaitan
was outside the kheddah and careering
down the street into the town, with
Bux Khan still on his back.
A few seconds later Captain Eaton
appeared. running from his bungalow,
carrying his heavy rifle. A glance at
the shattered gateway showed him he
was too late; but he determined to fol-
low the elephant and shoot it as soon
as possible. Calling on couple of men
to follow him. he set of in the direction
the elephant had taken. lie had Nc
occasion to ask the way the crowds Of
excited natives that he met on the road
showed the sensation that Shaitan had
created as he passed. AS Eaton nearcd
the town his anxiety lest he should be
too late to shoot the animal before il
had done some dreadful damage
became intense. To his great relief
however, he found that he haC
gone through the whole length
Of the town without iDjurinG
anything or anybody. In answer t
his inquiries, the natives told him tina
it was going at full speed as it passed
and that the AZ CHAN was still on it
back. Captain Eaton followed the ele
plant for several miles beyond tn,
town, but without oyertaking it. a
length he gave up the pursuit and re
turned to the kheddah, where he imme
diately ordered several feet elephant
to be got ready, and sent them off il
charge Of number Of steady, picke'
men, whom he armed with rifles, Il
look for the escaped elephant. lie de
termined to follow them as soon as h
had seen to the elephant that hal bee
attacked and thrown down by Shaitan
and had restored order in the kheddah
About two hours later, while tn
Captain was hard at work in the khcd
dah, mahout, greatly excited, rushe
in, exclaiming, Sahib Sahib Shat
tan is coming back, and that mldmal
is still riding him ! "
HAS he been caught? Is he com
ing with the other elephants?"
"No, Sahib; he is coming alone
and that mad fellow is still on hi
back "; whereupon Eaton caught ~
his loaded rifle, which was leaning
against the wall, and ran to the gate
lie arrived there Just as Shaitan en-
tered the kheddah. But instead of
furious and mad creature striding wildl
along and trumpeting with rage Their
entered a quiet, silent, subdued elt
G plant, with hanging head, limp trunk
u and slow, weary step. AS Eaton raise
+ his rife to shoot it the Afghan shouted
=" Do not fire, Sahib. 1t is quiet now
Q will take it to the stable and tic