San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-30

] immediately aLIfdcleu tlle attention OF TIE
| people standing near, and many friendly re-
marks were made and samtatiOns uttered.
The Afghan, however, made no reply, and
took no notice of anybody, but carried the
child straight 10 his hut at the back of Shat
tan's stable. There ne remained undisturb-
ed every person in the kheddah having by
this time learned better than TO thrust his
company or conversation on the elephant
| tanner unbidden.
1t very soon became evident that BuX Khan
was pasSionately fond of his child, and also
exceedingly jealous of any attention paid to
it. He resented Enthusiastically any attempt
on the part of strangers to patrOnize or pet
the child, and would not allow it 10 play with
the other children in the kheddah, of whom
there were many. lie rarely let 1t out of his
sight and tended it as carefully and gently
| as mother her iiTSt-bOm. The child was as
fond of him as he of it, and would lie in his
| lap as he sat smoking, pulling his beard with
| its little hands and laughing in his face with
childish glee. At such times something like
the ghost of grim smile would pass over
the elephant-tamer's rigid features, only to
be exchanged for dark frOwn should any
stranger pass by and witness the little scene.
Something which happened one day eff
fcctually put stop to any further DISPOSE
ton on the part of the people in the kheddah
to take notice of the child. Observing one
of the elephant attendants to be gazing very
earnestly at the child as it was playing about,
BuX Khan Immediately concluded that he
was casting an evil eye on il. Starting Ia
his feet, the Afghan seized a heavy cudgel
and rushed at the man. Luckily for himself,
the fellow was a nimble runner, and succeed
ed in escaping mhurt. The matter was re-
ported to Captain Eaton, and he was at first
disposed to punish BuX Khan for the unprO-
vOked attack; but atterward decided to pass
ii over, as the man attacked had not been
hurt, and he thought it would do more harm
than good Ia take notice of it. Nothing was
known of the mother of the child; but there
was dark rumOT current in the kheddah
that BuX Khan had in tit of jealousy muir
dered his wife, young girl TO whom he had
been devOtedly attached, and had since, gone
mad with TemOTSe. One thing was certain
no one ventured to question him Oh the sub
ject.
Several weeks passed away, and Captain
Eaton had seen no reason to change the good
opinion he had formed of the elephant-tamer.
He was by far the best mahOut in the khed-
dab; ard his sObrlety, steadineSs and regu-
larity made him model 10 all the Others.
His good conduct soon brought him an unex-
pected reward.
For some time past Eaton had been dis
satisfied with the conduct of the jemadar,
his head man. He was getting very old, and
being of an easy, kindly disposition, had al
lowed many irregularities to creep into the
daily work in the kheddah, the consequence
being that discipline was much relaxed. An
other thing that troubled Captain Eaton was
that batch of elephants had recently arrived
at the kheddah from Lower Bengal, the ma
hOuts and coolies in charge of which were
the worst he had ever had to deal with. They
were most of them lOw-caste Hindus, and
were a noisy, drunken, turbulent lot, ever
giving trouble, and taxing EatOn's patience
TO Che utmost Drunken orgies, followed by
fights, had of late been of frequent occur
renee; while several of the men, being con-
tirmed bang-SmOkers, were often incapable
of work. Complaints of petty thefts in the
kheddah had also become common. Captain
Eaton had dismissed one or two and flOgged
Others without improving matters much, and
was now at his wits end. lie determined to
pension Off the Old jemadar and appoint an
other man in his place, on whom he could
rely to assist him in restoring order and dis
cipline; nor had he far to look In BuX
Khan he had Il man to his hand, whom all
respected or feared, and whose giant strength,
cool courage and iron nature fitted him above
all others to rule turbulent and reckless char
a0terS. Though there were 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 elephant
tanner presented himself, 81 have sent for
you to tell you that am greatly pleased with
the way in which you have conducted your
self since you entered my service"
BuX Khan salaamed, but made no reply.
II am therefore about to reward you, and
to raise you to post of great responsibility
and trust; intend to make you jemadar"
Bux Khan salaamed again, but without
any expression of surprise or pleasure.
You know the trouble we have had re-
Gently with those Bengalees; shall rely up
on you to put down all disturbances and ir-
regularities."
''Sahibp' replied Bux Khan, not bOastful-
ly, but with quiet conviction, Il am one
whom men obey. will keep those Hindu
dogs in order"
So the elephant-tamer was made jemadar;
and the wisdom of the appointment was soon
manifest. At first there was some natural
grumbling and diScOntent but it was soon
recognized that Bux Khan 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 il was
a proceeding of no ordinary peril to disobey
M ri IA hot in
days the turbulent were Overawed, the drunk
ards and bang smokers frightened into keep
ing sober and the petty thieves induced to
drop their Objectionable habits.
Something happened, however, one day to
make Captain Eaton regret for the moment
that he had made Bux Khan jemadar. He
was standing in the hospital shed superin-
tending an operation which was being per-
formed on an elephant; and close by, within
twenty or thirty yards, stood Shaitan In its
stable. In front of il, but out of its reach,
Bux Khan's little son was playing about,
ut,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 had let his child out of sight, when sud-
denly one of the men who was assisting at
the operation exclaimed: 'Sahib, Sahib!
look at the child Allah preserve itr'
Looking quickly up, Captain Eaton saw to
his horror that Bux Khan's child had in his
play approached within 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
seized the child round the body. The child
was but a mere feather-weight to the ele-
plant, and with one twist of its powerful
trlIn thraNU him ~ ShpnlHar inf. no
stable behind. The child fell on to heap
of fnlbar apI Shaitan ,vaS turni,fr rnnpi -