The Globe-republican., 1890-09-10

first thought was Of escape. dug my
heels into the sides of my horse, but he
would not move an inch. The poor ami
NAL was paralyzed with terror, and he
simply stood still, his fore legs out
stretched, and quivering all over like a
leaf
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 rolled from the saddle. By the
side of the horse lay fallen tree, as
thick through as a mans body. The
tree was lifted little off the ground by
the broken boughs, which took its
weight, and with single movement, so
active is one in such necessities, I 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
unde. 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 1 saw the
red tip of the bulls trunk stretching
itself towards me. If he could manage
to hook it round any part of me l was
lost. But in the position occupied
that was just what he could not do, al
though he knelt down to facilitate his
operations. On came the swapping tip
like . great open-mouthed snake; it
closed upon my hat, which vanished.
Again it was thrust down, and a 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 l have seen cruel
Kafir 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 l saw that
the tree was coming and roared aloud for
help. Some shots were fired close by in
answer, but if they hit the bull their
only effect was to stir his energies to
more active life. In another few Sec
onds my shelter would be torn away
and should be done for. A cold per-
SEPARATION burst over me as realized
that was lost. Then of sudden re-
membered that had a 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 could easily get my hand
down to my middle and draw the pistol
from its case. l 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. I
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 a consider
able squeeze, ard next instant heard
crashing sound. The elephant had
bolted.
TO BE CONTINUED.