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

several elderly mahouts, who, by right
of seniority and good conduct, were
entitled to the post Of jemadar, Eaton
was not long in making up his mind to
appoint the Afghan. Having decided
on this step he sent for him at once.
"Bux Khan" he said, when the ele-
phant-tamer presented himself, I" have
sent for you to tell you that | am great
~ pleased with the way in which you
have conducted yourself since you en-
tered my service
Brx Khan salaamed, but made no
reply.
81 am therefore about to reward
YOU and to raise You to a post of great
responsibility and trust; | intend to
make you iemadar."
Bux Khan salaamed again, but with
ont any expression Of surprise or
pleasure.
You know the trouble we have hal
recently with those Bengalees; shall
rely on you TO put down all disturb
auCeS and Irregularities"
"Sahb :" replied Bux Khan, not
boastfully, but with quiet conviction,
81 am one whom men obey. will
keep those IIindoo dogs in order"
SO the elephant-tamer was made jena
dar, and the wisdom Of the appoint
ment was soon manifest. At first there
was some natural grumbling and dis
content, butitwas soon recognized that
Bux Khsn was in his right place. So
great was the respect all had for him.
and so strong was the feeling among
the bad characters Of the kheddah, that
it was proceeding of no ordinary peril
to disoLey or thwart the new jemadar,
that in few days the turbulent were
oyerawed, and bang-smokers frightened
into keeping sober, and the petty
thieves induced TO drop their objection
able habits.
Something happened, however, one
day to make Captain Eaton regret for
the moment that he had made Bux
Khan jemadar. lie was standing in
the hospital shed experimenting an
operation which was being performed
on an elephant. and close by, within
twenty or thirty yards, stood Shaitan
in its stable. In front Of it. but cut Of
its reach. Bux Khan's little son was
play ing about, but, strange to say, Bux
Khan himself was not in sight. He had
been suddenly called away to attend to
some important duty, and for once hal
let his child ont Of sight, when sud
denly ore Of the men who was assist
ing at the operation exclaimed, " Sa-
hib, Sahib, look at the child Allah
preserve it :"
Looking quickly up. Captain Eaton
saw to his horror that Bux Khan S
child had in his play approached with
in reach Of Shaitan. Almost before he
could realize the danger he saw Shaitan
stride forward to the full length Of his
chains, and, stretching out his trunk
seize the child round the body. The
child was but mere feather-weight to
tie elephant. and with one twist Of itf
pow criul trunk it threw him over its
shoulder into the stable behind. The
little fellow fell on to heap Of fodder,
and Shaitan was turning round to
seize him when Captain Eaton rushed
to the child's rescue.
lie was only just in time. Leaning
up against the stable wall was an ele-
! phsnt-spear, with which he gave the
brute thrust, causing it to turn on
him, and with one blow to strike the
spear out of his hands. Before the ele-
! plant could strike again Captain Eaton
darted past it, and, Selling the child by
the arm, tried to drag him out of the
stable. As he stopped to grasp the
child's arm the elephant kicked out vio-
lently, and the gallant rescuer was
hurled heavily against the stable wall.
He fortunately fell in such a position
that Shaitan could rot easily get at
him. Nevertheless the brute made
thrust sideways at him with its
tusks, one Of which passed through the
loose part Of his coat, grazing his side.
Before Shaitsn could repeat the thrust,
spear, thrown by one of the men who
had FASTENED to their masters assist
ance, struck the ferocious animal.
With a roar of pain, the brute thre "
It's head up, whereupon Eaton seized
the opportunity to roll sideways out o.
its reach, dragging the child with him.
Having failed in its murderous inter-
tions. Shaitsn. after rumbling with
rage for few moments, commenced to
eat again as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile the Captain had carried
the child to his Office and examined him
to see if he was hurt. To his surprise
he found him uninjured. His having
fallen on the bundle of fodder when
the elephant threw him into the air had
saved the child from breaking any
bones.
That evening, as Captain Eaton sat
smoking in his yeranda after dinner.
Bux Kahn stalked in. and standing be-
fore him, salaamed deeply two or three
times without saying word then
touching his masters knees and feet,
and afterward his own forehead, he sa-
laamed again, and walked silently away.
And the Englishman knew better than
if Bux Khan had spent an hour in pro-
testations, that he had in the jemadar q
devoted follower, bound to him by the
tie Of gratitude deep and lasting.
This new outbreak Of Shaitan's de-
cided Captain Eaton 10 get rid Of it at
once, as too dangerous an animal to
keep in the kheddah. lie determined
to shoot it next day. But he was
saved the trouble. Early next morn
ing, before he went to his Office, an old
mahout presented himself at the bunga-