Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-08

vine. 1t wasn't exactly a ravine, but
a basin of thieket and rock, with a
spring at the bottom of it. My men soon
beat up the ground, and found a we'll
worn path leading to the den. 1t was
about twenty feet below the crest OF the
sink, and the opening was nearly as large
as barrel. There was no question but
that the panthers would be at home at
that hour of the day, and after arranging
my men with their shot guns l dropped
the bomb into the den myself 1t wasn't
a bomb for mortar, but heavy glass
bulb filed with chemicals and exploded
by fuse. When the chemicals were re-
leased they created such smell as no
human nose could endure.
| heard growl as retreated, and all
of US caught the sound of the explosion.
Indeed, we felt the jar of 1t. A few sec
onds later there was rush and roar,
and one panther was hardly out when a
second followed. They were cut aud
bleeding and seemed to be on fire. We
fred as they came into sight, and both
rolled to the bottom of the sink, dead.
1t was a full hour before native could
enter the den, aud then he found two
dead cubs and some of the bones OF the
villagers child. We gave them the
scalps of the panthers, that they might
claim the Government reward, and the
father of the child at once forgot his
loss.
| had had my elephant seven months
before learned his real value. He had
been warranted a neryy beast, but it often
happens that if an elephant is transferred
to new scenes he undergoes change of
heart. One afternoon | rode down the
route about five miles to village to pro
cure medicine for a sick man in my party.
The route was through forest and thicket
and over stretches of open covered with
tall grass. Before going exchanged
my rifle for one of the shotguns, knowing
that il would De a more effective wea-
pom from the back of an elephant There
had been a murder committed in the viii
/ lage that forenoon, and this and other
matters detained me until about an hour
! before sunset. As l made ready to start
back native hunter said to me:
"The sahib will need sharp eyes and
steady hand. A wolf has just appeared
in the village"
l thanked him for his interest aud rode
away. The wolves of India do not pack
in such numbers as elsewhere, seldom
more than five Or six being found to-
gether. We had killed few along the
line, and they had showed no fight at all
As Zeb shambled along l thought far less
of wolves than of bigger game.
I l wasn't mile out of the village when
Zeb began to swing his trunk as a sign
that he scented danger. AS we left the
cover of the woods to cross one of the
open spaces, he trumpeted in excitement,
and increased his pace. l could see
nothing at first to alarm him, but two or
three minutes later | caught sight of
/ five wolves on our trail and this number
/ increased to twenty almost in twink
! ling. We were not yet half way across
the open when the pack spread out in
half circle and closed in on us. As soon
as they were near enough | opened fire,
and wolf dropped at every report. The
living didn't stop, however, but closed
in more eagerly than before, and Zeb was
now under such motion that | could no
longer use the gun. | had scarcely laid
it down and picked up Ratchet which
was in the howdah by chance, when a
wolf sprang fairly from the ground and
caught the edge of the box-iike arrange
ment with his forepaws. | used the
Ratchet to sever his paws, and both
/ dropped inside as ne rolled off to the
ground.
Zeb was now speeding along like
runaway horse, and had all could do
to retain my seat He used his trunk
right and left, and more than once l
heard wolf howl ont as he was knocked
over. | had no maheut, always acting
as my own, and Zsb had always been
wonderfully obedient to my voice. l
had no orders to give him now, however,
and only knew in vague way that he
was beading for our camp. He finally
reached the far edge of the open, and
now | expected to be swept off his back
as he ran under the trees. Instead of
going into the woods he sklrted them to
the westward and after run of five
minutes he reached small lake, of whose
presence l had not the slightest knowl-
edge, as it was walled in by thickets.
/ He ran straight into the water, which was
about four feet deep and alive with
alligators. 1t was about an acre in ex-
tent, and Zeb waded out about 200 feet
from shore before he stopped. The pack
followed us, each wolf obliged to swim,
and l counted eleven of them. They
probably reasoned that we were going
straight across.
When the elephant halted l had my
shotgun ready to open fire, but there
was no need of it. Zeb let the wolves
come on, only to their destruction The
first one he got hold of was flung thirty
feet high, and the blows of his trunk
broke a back whenever it could get
fair blow. | believe he would nave
cleaned out the whole pack without
help, but l killed two, and then aid
came from an unexpected quarter The
alligators, disturbed by the row, were
quick to catch on TO the fact that food
was at hand, and they came up by the
dozen. Three or four wolves made for
the shore after bit, but not one reached
it. When the last one had been pulled
down Zeb waded ashore and headed for
camp, which he reached without further
incident. When l came to look him over
I found that he had received several bites
on the trunk, and a sharp stone had
severely cut his right hind foot.
After that night the sight of wolf
instantly aroused his ire. | had him in
the town of Sundella one day year
later, when native wearing a wolf-skin
shoulder cape happened to pass near.
Zeb at once charged him, and seizing the
poor fellow in his trunk flung him clear
over the telegraph wires and on to the
roof of bungalow. The man had leg
broken, and, of course, l had to settle
the damages. After two days of palaver
he named his figures. He wanted sum
equivalent to $25 in American money.
and his friends thought it fortunate
speculation on his part.-Ne,o FORK Sun.
Rabbits.
The average life of a rabbit is put at
about nine years. The doe may have