The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-09
waiting only an instant to insure my air
when, with a hearty laugh. waving hi
hand tho frn5ar sboutad.

waiting only an instant to insure my aim
when, with a hearty laugh, waving his
hand, the trader shouted:
Don't fire! Keep your balance, and
Well have him freed In half a minute"
The trunk came flying through the air,
with a furious whirl and passed within ten
feet of him as he lodged.
My blood ran cold. / sprang to my feet
and clutched the branch above my head as
they made a straight dash for the tree be-
meath me. the elephant, fairly furious.
reaching within five feet of my friend. He
was leapinG forward, directly for the trunk
of the tree. He could never climb it be-
fore that giant would be upon him.
One leap more must be his last! Whati
He touched the massive tree with his ex-
tended hands and like a flash swung him
self about it, The next instant, with a
crash which almost sent me from my perch.
the furious beast banged, head first, against
the gnarled trunk. and stood stock still, for
an instant, while the trader on the other
side roared with laughter, gasping:
That was a good straight one, wasn't
it?"
Then followed the most magnificent spec
tacle of towering rage which l have ever
seen, as the elephant began to hurl his
huge body about that tree, among the great
twisted roots, flashing it with his trunk,
gouging is with his tusks and exaspsrating
himself more and more in q vain attempt to
reach the quick and muscular trader.
At last, with u sulien grunt he settled
himself to do away with the tree altogether.
He braced his head against the trunk and
began to push till the great tree shook and
vibrated.
That was the signal for the Malays, who
stood about at respectful distances, and
long, strong cords, with weights attached.
came flying through the air. They twisted
about his legs, his neck, his body. till in no
time he was completely tangled, and turn
ing to extricate himself, le stumbled, fell,
was pulled over, helpless, upon his back
and in Il twinkling each leg was drawn in
an independent direction and fastened by "a
long rope to the nearest tree.
1t was a dash from the sublime to the RI
dioulous, for n more absurd picture l never
saw than that furious tusker, sprawlinR
helplesaly upon his back. his legs sticking
up In the air oabled to as many trees.
That's what we call freeing an elephant"
said the trader, still laughing and painting.
But isn't ii danRerousp We're you never
hurtP" l asked thinking still of that last
horrible moment.
He pulled up the leg of his tights, show
ing me an ugly scar a little above the knee.
THAT was made by u tusk." he said. ION
one OF my first efforts. At The last moment
l looked back to see if my elephant was
coming on all right. l tripped and went
head first. Like a great black cloud the
furious fellow came down over me. For
t~unately | landed or moss. right alongside
a Dig roes. tie planted HIS tu5k4 ana
gouged them in. One went throueh that
leg. The other--thank the Lord-struck
on the other side of the root. Then he
came the next trick of doubling himself up
as though he was going 10 turn u somer-
sault. and began pushing down just as this
fellow pushed against the tree. Merciful
heavens! but | thought he would crush the
life out of me! The moss under me muse
have yielded a good deal and tho root must
have caught its share. for | was still alive
when the boys got him tangled and pulled
him oil. No bones we're broken, and when
the gouge healed up l was AZ good as new.
But it taught mo Il good lesson, l tell you,
to attend strictly to my own business and
not bother about the elephant till ! was
we'll behind the tree"