The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-09-12

4
slope till we came to the bottom, which
was densely covered with bush. Here j
saw the elephants had been feeding, for
broken branches and upturned trees lay
all about. Ibid not take much notice,
however, for all my thoughts were fixed
upon the bull was stalking, when sud-
denly my horse made violent start that
nearly threw me from my saddle, and
there came mighty rush and upheaval
of something in front of me. l looked.
There was the hinder part of a second
bull elephant not four yards off. l could
just catch sight Of his outstretched ears
projecting on either side. l had dis
tuibed it sleeping, and it was running
away. Obviously the best thing to do
would have been to let it run, but was
young in those days and foolish, and in
the excitement of the moment lifted my
.'roer" or elephant gun and fired at the
brute over my horses head. The recoil
of the heavy gun nearly knocked me of
the horse. 1 recovered myself, how
ever, and as l did so saw the bull lurch
forward, for the impact of three-ounce
bullet in the TANKS will quicken the
movements even of an elephant.
On rushed the elephant, awful to see;
made one more vain effort to stir the
horse. Now the trunk of the great bull
swung aloft above my head. A thought
flashed through my brain. Quick as
light 1 rolled from the saddle. By the
side of the horse lay a fallen tree, as
thick through as a mans body. The
tree was lifted little off the ground by
the broken boughS, which took It's
weight, and with a single movement, so
active is one in such necessities, flung
myself beneath it. AS did so heard
the trunk of the elephant descend with
a mighty thud on the back of my poor
horse, and the next instant was almost
in darkness, for the horse, whose back
was broken, fell over across the tree
under which lay ensconsed. But he did
not stop there long. In ten seconds
more the bull had got his trunk round
my dead nag's neck, and, with mighty
effort, hurled him clear of the tree. 1
wriggled backwards as far as could
towards the roots of the tree. for knew
what he was after. Presently saw the
red tip of the bulls trunk stretching
itself towards me. II he could manage
to hook it round any part of me was
lost. But in the position l occupied
that was just what he could not do, al
though he knelt down to facilitate his
operations. On came the swapping tip
like a great open-mouthed snake; it
closed upon my hat, which vanished.
Again it was thrust down, and q scream
of rage was beloved through it within
four inches of my head. Now it seemed
to elongate itself Oh, heavens! now it
had me by the hair, which, luckily for
myself, was not very long. Then it was
my turn to scream, for next instant
half a square inch of hair was dragged
from my scalp by the roots. 1 was be-
ing plucked alive, as / have seen cruel
Kaffir kitchen boys pluck fowl. The
elephant, however, disappointed with
the moderate results, changed his tao
tics. He wound his trunk around the
fallen tree and lifted it. 1t stirred, but
fortunately the broken branches
embedded in the spongy soil, and
some roots which still held, prevented
it from being turned over, though he
lifted it so much that had it occurred to
him he could easily have fished me out
with his trunk. Again he hoisted with
all his mighty strength, and saw that
the tree was coming and roared aloud for
help. Some shots were fired close by in
answer, but if they hit the hull their
only effect was to stir his energies to
more active life. In another few Sec
onds my shelter would be torn away
and l should be done for. A cold per-
spiration burst over me as l realized
that / was lost. Then of sudden re-
membered that / had pistol in my belt
which 1 often used for dispatching
wounded game. 1t was loaded and
capped. By this time the tree was lifted
so much that 1 could easily get my hand
down to my middle and draw the pistol
from its case. / drew and cooked it
See, the tree was coming, and there,
within three feet Of my head. was the
great brown trunk of the elephant l
placed the muzzle of the pistol within
an inch of it and fired. The result was
instantaneous. Down sunk the tree
again, giving one of my legs consider
able squeeze, and next instant I heard a
crashing sound. The elephant had
bolted.
lTo BE coxTISUKp.l