Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-08-01
SANTHALS RIFLE.

lived with his grandfather in a small vii
lage on the Hooghly river, few miles
south of Utterpara. They belonged to the
very poor class of people, and it was diff
cult for them to get enough rice and meat
to supply their daily needs.
But when little Santhal's grandfather
was taken sick it seemed as if one or the
other would have to starve The boy tried
hard to gather enough food to prevent his
old parent from suffering; but he often
had to go for long periods without any
thing to eat for himself
One day he had been less successful than
usual in gathering bamboo rice, and he re-
turned to his bungalow at noon tired and
discouraged. His grandfather, from lack
of good, nourishing food, was gradually
failing The boy looked at the wan, pinched
face of his sick relative until the tears rolled
down his cheeks in little rivers. If his
grandfather should die he would be left
alone in the world, with no one to love or
care for him.
II will go to Utterpara and beg" he sud
denly gasped between his sobs. Il will get
some medicine for grandfather"
Although he had not eaten anything
since morning, the boy stole out of the sick
room, and began his journey to Utterpara.
He buckled his belt tightly around his
waist, and then started on quick jog. His
journey lay along the main roadway, where
he met many passing pedestrians
Santhal did not notice any of these. He
looked neither to the right nor to the left
until he reached the English dispensary,
where he had determined to seek aid.
The boy had never been inside of this
foreign" building, where many Of his
countrymen were stretched out upon clean,
white COTS The sight of the sick ones be-
ing carefully attended to made the boy feel
envious, and he longed to get his grand
father inside of the hospital.
A kindly looking man approached the
boy, as he stood near the door with wide
open eyes, and asked him his mission
"Grandfather is SICK" Santhal blurted
out, tears starting to his eyes again at the
hind. HE wants medicine and food. He
will die and leave Santhal alone if you
don't come and help him."
"You need food, too, my little man. -
said the good doctor, as he noticed the lean,
hungry look on his face.
Santhal did not say no, for he felt faint
and weak from his run, but his eloquent
eyes pleaded for his grandfather rather
than for himself.
"Come in here" the doctor said, "and
eat something before you return"
He then led the boy into an adjoining
room, where warm dinner was quickly
sCread before him. Santhal had never
seen such luxuries, and his eyes bulged out
with eager expectation. He could hardly
tell his story to his new friend, so anxious
was he to eat. The doctor watched him
with a quiet smile on his face, and manag
ed finally to elicit from him his whole
story.
"Well, I will take some of the food to
YOUR grandfather in this basket" the doc
tor said, land carry him some medicine
You can COZ. home later. Ny carriage
will only hold ae. and you will have to
walk back"
Santhal said he did not mind the walk
bor,,a after eating such a dinner. He
would enjoy the run back.
"You might carry my rifle with you, .
the doctor continued, land if you see any
came on the way YOU can shoot it. A ut
tle fresh meat will be good for your grand
father."
Now Santha1 had great respect for the
English rifles, and it had always been
great ambition of his to own one. Severa
times he had handled them, and longed te
shoot one off. But they were very costly
instruments, and he doubted If he could
ever afford to get one.
eff I had one could make q good liy-
sng for grandfather, he used to say te
himself. ~ could go out into the jungies
and kill game and sell the skins. Wewoulo
never be hungry any more then"
The thought of carrying one OF the nice
" polished rifles home with him made his
heart jump with pride. He ate his dinner
hurriedly and was ready to start nearly as
soon as the doctor.
II was a fine light Snider rifle, made
after the most approved fashion, and
SanthM handled it as carefully as he woulc
glass watch. He hurried through the
a " with it under his arms, intending te
loo K around for game as soon as hi
reac, we'd the country.
20 H tbs lower part of Utterpara the city
,,as :, dekly populated by the very poor
va % os Santhal passed through this low
-, a,.tar usany admiring glances were cast
A. = bic tightly polished rifle. Santha
no,lad a1o az as proudly as if the rifle be
wood ~ HI u, and in his heart he secretly
pis6ed that something would happen Sc
hat he could have a chance to shoot it off
A if to eratia Y lis wishes the loud trum
,eting of an . ppav elephant just the1
startled the peopl e in their bungalows ane
IN the streets. In few minutes terrible
Try was carried frol mot. IN 70 NOUN tha'
made many stout he arts tn. !nple.
A large elephant that ha> Z peen taker
Town to the Hooghly river h, "a suddenly
become furious, and began to rn I eoouI II
5he water. The elephant driver, VINO nae
oeen riding him, gave the alarm, put
ohoyee (dooley bearer) who was attenn 'ulne
20 run away was caught in his trunk i. eno
lung into the air. The man rose to IA Y
height of about twenty feet, and was
crushed to death in the fall.
The elephant then ran across the bridge,
ind, finding man running there, caught
wall. The maddened beast then entered
1river had meanwhile chung to his seat
trunk, which again and again was twirl ed
around his head to dislodge the driver.
The greatest excitement prevailed in thse
clGy. livery O1C w DIS ucclIISS hOu1 oliO etu--
cry beast, and a great amount of danger
was anticipated. There were no English,
men around, and none Of the natives were
armed with rifles. None Of them were able
TO afford such Injuries.
Santhal was the only one in the crowd.
that possessed at that time one of the dead
Iy instruments. AS he heard the loud.
trumpeting of the elephant, and saw the.
giant form running rapidly through the,
streets, his heart sank within him. His.
little arms trembled so that he could hard
ly hold the rifle.
He could easily escape the wild beast by
hiding in one of the numerous bungalows,
for he was so small that the elephant would
pass by without noticing him. But then
the thought of the great damage which
the animal would do before any one could
get to the scene to kill him made him bold.
He saw the great elephant striding to-
wards him, approaching nearer and nearer
with every step. He saw him pick up an
other man and dash him to death with one
swing of his powerful trunk.
Santhal then raised his rifle to his shoul-
der and took an unsteady aim. The street
was now nearly deserted and he STOOD
alone facing the great monster. His nerves
were all unstrung, and his aim was uncer-
tain, but he held his ground bravely.
There was d sharp report aefash OF tame