The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-17

trundllng alcng at rapid gait. Raffiss
accepted the situation without further
comment,
Il wouldn't have gone away If had
known you were going TO break out
again" Berthe resumed. we all Thought
you are Won't you promise, for my
sake. TO do better when your punishment
Is over2"
TOO late" muttered Rafhes. I'm In
for Il long term, and then I'll he dismissed
from the service" His voice quavered
pltifully.
But suppose can help your" ex.
claimed Berthe, what II persuade father
not to have you dismissed
II you save me from that" declared
Itnfiies, earnestly. "and gain me another
chance, I'll never break 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 clhtter.
As they rode along Itafhes reviewed
the slim chances OF an appeal to the
colonel and the CLEAN of hope faded from
his face. But he did not know what the
day WAS to bring forth.
The battery was performing a circular
movement which was to bring It in
triumph past the governor general and
staff IL was now on the opposite side of
the circle, and close to the tracks OF the
Peninsuiar railway.
just as the leading gun carriage veered
of 10 left, the fast express train from
Peshawn came dashing along with a loud
jingle Of bells and kissing Of steam.
1t was a most unfortunate encounter. or
the whole twelve elephants, but two were
unaccusromed to the railway Sultan and
Nabob, who drew Raffles gun carriuge,
both hated and feared the steam cars.
They reared and plunged and trumpeted
sniilly. Then, mad with terror and deaf 10
the eXhortations and proddlng of the ma
tive mahosls, they broke out OF line and
dashed up a rocky hill side. straight away
from the reviewing stan ana the rest OF
the force.
The disaster was instantly observed.
There was no lack OF discipline The bat
terry halted. and Its commanding officer
spurrsd after the fugitiYes on horse back
Then. by special order, troop OF cavalry
clattered over the play. The ambulance
corps wisely followed.
"Thls rs serious. Strntford." said the gov
ernor general, 81 know what mad ele-
plants are. The brutes will likely plunge
over yonder bluff" peering through his
Held glasses he added: There Is some one
on the carriage beside the gunner"
The colonel took the glasses with a
trembling hand. 1T is BERTHE" he gasped
and digging his spurs into his horse he
was off like whirlwnd.
Meanwhile the huge. panic stricken eIe-
phant1 had actually gained on their pur-
suers as they strobe recklessly up the hill,
over rocks, bushes ana everything that
came In their way. Reffles realIzed the
danger, He had but one thought-how to
save BERTHE.
The lads 1rst Impulse was 10 iump.
but Raffies caught and held him. ''Youli
break your neck n you try that" ne
cried. Trust TO me-"
Side by side they chung to the narrow
seat IL was almost miracle that they
were not pitched OF. Finding they could
do nothing with the maddened brutes both
drivers jumped az the same instant. One
poor fellow struck head lrst on a rock
and never moved. The other landed in
some bushes, but he was not far enough
out OF the way. He uttered a piercing
scream as the heavy wheels rolled over his
leg
BERTHE shivered and chung tighter 10 his
companion, The elephants dashed on faster
than ever. just ahead was the TOP of the
Hill. The other side dropped down NJ a
frlghtful angle Tor several hundred feet.
u slckened Rafflea to think OF what would
happen when the maddered brutos should
reach the verge In vain he shouted 10
Sultan. lie looked back at the ptlrsuinR
horsemen. No hope o. all there.
Then Tom remembered that a road led
alopg the brow Of the hill. ana finally
turned down 70 tho river Raw az a point
where the slope was not nrecipitlons
Like a Hash he formed desperate re-
solve.
Hold tight my lad" he said al.m
golng 10 leave YOU II Il comes 10 the
worst Jump on before we so over the
blum DO you understands
Berthe nodded There was a grim and
plucky expression on his pailld face.