The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-17
Our \ outh.

This meant court martial, and Raffies
resigned himself TO the inevitable dur
ing the week that he lay in dark
cell.
Then it CHANGED that the governor
general and his staff came north on
tour of inspection. a grand review
and manoeuvers We're ordered at La
hore caRtonments.
Colonel Stratford was in a quandary.
He had no gunner whom he could
trust to fill Rallies place on SO import
ant an OCCASION Rallies had even more
control over the wo elephants than
their native drivers. Sultan, the lead
er was greatly attached to him. So,
rather than run the risk OF spelling
the review, the colonel decided to es-
tablish military precedent by grant
ing Rallies a short leave of absence
from the guard house.
AT sunrise on the appointed day the
pam before the environments was q
scene of martial glory Bodies of cav
airy and infantry moved to and fro
amid sparkle of arms and equip
lnents. The heavy battery care last
SIX polished guns mounted by six proud
aruiierymen. Each gun carriage was
araWn by two buriy elephants. and on
top OF each elephant was "a turbaned
Hindoo with steel prod in his hand
Rafiies gloomily surveyed the scene
With folded arms. Under the circunl-
stances such a public exposure was
not to his taste.
At last the encouragement and
staff arrived from Lahore and the Ger
emonies began. A certain order was
given to the heavy battery and just
as they fell into motion BERTHE STRAIT
ford leapt upon RaffieS gun carriage
Raffles wished that he could sink out
of sight His face turned red and pur-
pie. II thought you were at RawaI
Pindi, he stammered. Il came back
last night" replied BERTHE. 81 say,
Raffles. I'm awfully sorry for you.
Whatever possessed you to-
Il afraid you'll get in trouble for
this" interrupted Raff1es, pretending
not to understand. 1.-THE colonel will
be furious to see an outsider on gun
carriage at such a time Why. we're
right in the middle of the review"
He don't see me yet" said BERTHE.
He's too much taken with is lord
ship. Anyway, I can't jump off now.''
This was true, since the battery was
trundling along at a rapid gait. Raj
f1es accepted the situation without fur
Their comment.
Il wouldn't have gone away if I had
again, BERTHE resumed. 1--WE all
thought you were reformed Now
look where you are. Won't you prom
Use, for my sake, to do better when
your punishment is over?'
TOO late, muttered Rallies I'm in
for a long term, and then I'll be dis
missed from the service" His voice
quavered pitifully.
But suppose [ can help you?" ex-
claimed BERTHE, what if I persuade
father not to have you dismissedr'
If you save me from that declared
Raffies. earnestly, land gain me an
other chance. I'll never break a rule
as long as I live
Its a bargain cried BERTHE, and
that ended the conversation, for the
guns had now reached stony ground,
and were making a prodigious clatter.
AS they rode along, Raff1es reviewed
the slim chances of an appeal to the
colonel and the CLEAN of hope faded
from his face. But ne did not know
what the day was to bring forth.
The battery was performing "a circu-
lar movement which was to bring it in
trdlumph past the governor-general and
staff. 1t vas now on the opposite side
of the circle, and close to the tracks
of the Peninsular railway.
Just as the leading ssun-carriage
Yeered off to left, the fast express train
from Peshawn came dashing along with
loud jingle of bells and Kissing steam.
1t was most unfortunate encounter.
OF the whole twelve elephants, but
two were unaccustomed to the rail-
way Sultan and Nabob, who drew
Rallies gun carriage, both hated and
feared the steam cars. They reared
and plunged, and trumpeted shrilIy.
Then, mad With terror and deaf to the
eHhOrtatiOnS and prOdding of the ma
tive mahcst. they broke out of line and
dashed up rocky hill side. straight
away from the reviewing staff and the
rest of the force
The disaster was instantly observed.