San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-01
CONTINUED. Commenced April ISL
The Elephant Tanner.

Meanwhile the captain had carried the
child to his Office and examined him to see if
he was hurt. TO his surpris,, he found him
minjured. 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 Smok-
ing in his Vertnda after dinner, BuX Khan
stalked in, and standing before him, Salaam-
ed deeply two or three times without saying
word; then touching his masters knees
and feet and afterwmd his own forehead, he
salaamed again, and walked silently away.
And the EngliShman knew better than il
BuX Khan had spent an hour in protesta-
tons that he had in the jemadar a devoted
follower, bound to him by the tie of graft
tude deep and lasting.
This new outbreak of Shaitan's decided
Captain Eaton to get rid of it at once, as too
dangerous an animal to keep in the kheddah.
He determined to shoot ii next day. But he
was saved the trouble Early next morning.
before he went TO his office, an old mahOut
presented himself at the bungalow. Twill
the Sahib please come down to the kheddah
at once?'' he said we have something to
show him
What is the natter"
"Shaitan is dCad, replied the man.
Dead! What did he die of"
"He has been killed." was the reply.
Captain Eaton at once hurried down to the
kheddah, and went straight to Shaitan's
stable. There lay the elephant on its side
dead, in great pool of blood An examina-
ton showed that it had received two deep
thrusts behind the left fOre-leg, both of
which must have penetrated its heart. The
spear with which the wounds had evidently
been inflicted was lying on the floor of the
stable. There was no occasion TO ask who
had done the deed. There was but one man
in the kheddah who had sufficient strength
and courage, as every one knew, and that
was BuX Khan, the jemadar He had clear
ly during the night taken vengeance on the
elephant for its attack on his child. Eaton
at once sent for him and taxed him with the
OtfenSe. The Afghan did not attempt to
deny it, and his face darkened and his eyes
CLEANED as he said grimly: 1T is true, Sa-
hib; killed it,"
Captain Eaton spoke severely to him,
pointing out to him the gravity of the offenSe
he had committed; but in his heart he SYM
pathized with the man, and was glad the
dangerous creature had thus been disposed
of. BuX Khan listened silently, and made
no attempt to eXculpate himself. 1t was well
for him that the death of the elephant had
already been decided on. He had merely
forestalIed the order which would have been
given next day, and was consequently light
ly punished by a triilmg fine. Had any other
man than Bux Khan been the offender, he
would not only have been dismissed, but
probably have been committed to Jail. The
jemadar was too valuable a man, however,
to lose; and his English master was glad of
any excuse to pass over the matter. He took
care, however, to let every one employed at
the Sheddah know the reason for his lenity,
warning them at the same time that any at
tempt to kill or injure any elephant in the
future would be visited with the seyerest
punishment.