The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-06-08

Siamcsc elephants. Observing how
firmly tho old fellow was planted in
the river sand, and that the other elc-
plants labored under the disadvantage
of standing Oh the sloping bank, |
concluded that he would protract his
bath rs long as he chose.
All nt once the attendant elephants
ceased their struggles, and a cry of
terror burst from the lips of one of
the priests, and whatever | had be-
lievcd before am now certain that
those white elephant priests love aud
vencra,c their charges.
"Secl the karoo bokadams!" cried
the priest, ''the white kings life is in
danger!"
Floating down the river. directly
toward the white elephant, was a piece
of wrcckagc, part of Il broken bamboo
raft, and lying coilcd upon it were
two of that hideous, terribly venomus
variety of water snakes, the karoo
bokadam.
IL ihe wreckagc kept its course 1t
would float against the elephants side.
IL he moved he might excite the vim
diciiivc snakes and receive n fatal
blow.
The priests on attendant elephants
halted them, but still the white clc-
phant beloved and swaycd from side
TO side. Truly, the white kings life
was in danger.
l grasped my oars and forced the
stern of the shell about, and backing
water, came up to the raft with its
fatal freight, anding plac the point of
tho boat against it gently pushed it
before me out into the current of the
river.
A shout of Thanksgiving rose be-
hind me as ] drificd along do wn stream,
watching the scrpents on the raft at the
stern. The creatures moved uueasily
and started at me with their unwink-
ing eyes, and at last one dropped over
board and sank beneath the quiet sur
face.
| thought of the stories had heard
of the quarrelsome and revengeful
disposition of the karoo bokadam, how
if disturbed it would follow boats for
miles, watching for chance to leap
over the thwarts and attack the row.
ers; how swift, how tireless aud how
terrible it was. Even the books at the
station corroborated the stories of the
natives; from quaint old Montigny's
"Noyagc EN- Siam," to the latest
natural history from London, all
agreed in their stories of the malignant,
dreadful karoo boka1am And yet
did not believe these stories.
l decided to anger the serpent and
see what he would do.
l picked up heavy piece of wood
that Yves floating ir the river and
threw it at him, striking Kim full on
the neck. With an angry hiss lie
raised his head and then deliberately
cast himself into the water and started
to swim along the side of the boat
toward me.
The shell sat low down in the
water and he could easily reach me,
so seized the oars and took a strong
pull.
The boat shot ahead, but on came
the snake, swifter than before, aud
l took another pull, hardly believing
that the reptile was really following
me. But my doubt was soon laid
at rest, for he darted along on the SUR
face, straight in my wai;e.
l bent to the oars and made the shell
go as fast as my weary muscles
would allow. And yet the snake
seemed to gain, aud as knew that in
my tired condition could not long
keep up the race, decided to run
ashore. But the shore line was be-
hind forest of tall reeds growing far
out into the river and the snake could
Kill mo at his leisure while my boat
stuck in them.
l thought of striking him with an
oar, but there he was few feet be-
hind the boat, and before l could get
an oar out Of its cumbrous fastening
hc would be upon me, and even could
get the oar out in time it would be
too long and unwieldy at close quar-
ters.
My only hope was to make for the
first practicable landing and there was