Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-02-06


OF the whole IL elephants but two werc
ulaccustomed to the railway. Sultan
and Nakob> who drew Rsf1es' gun car
i riage, both hated and feared the steam
ears. They reared and plunged aud
Gumpeted shriIly. Then, mad with
terror and deaf to the exhortations and
prodding of the native mahouts, they
broke out of line and dashed mp u rocky
hillside, straight away from the re-
viewing staff and the rest of tho force.
The disaster was instantly observed.
There was no iack-of discipline. Tho
battery halted, and its commanding Off
Ger spurred after the fugitives on horse
back. Then, by special order. troop
of cavalry clattered over the plain. Tho
ambulance corps wisely followed.
This Is serious, Strattord. /" said the
governor general. / know what mad
elephants are, The hrutes viii likely
plunge over yonder bluff y Peering
through his fieldglasses, he added,
There is some one ON the carriage be-
side the gunner. -
The colonel took the glasses with u
trembling hand. 1T is BERTHE, he
gasped, and digging the spurs into his
horse he was off like whirlwind.
Meanwhile the huge, panic stricken
elephants had actually gained on their
pursuers as they strobe reclslessly up
the hill, over rocks, bushes and every
thing that came in their way Rafflcs
realized the danger. He had but one
thought-how to save Berthe.
The lads first impulse was TO jump.
but Rat1ies caught and held him.
You'll break your neck if You try
that, he cried. Trust to me. -
Side by side they cIung to the narrow
seat. 1t was a-miracle that they were
not pitched off. Finding they could do
nothing with the maddencd bIutes, both
drivers jumped at the same instant.
One poor. fellow struck head first on u
rock and never moved. The other land
ed 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.
Bertie shivered and chung tighter to
his companion. The elephants dashed
on faster than ever. just ahead was
the top of tho hill. Tho other side
dropped down at a frightful angle for
several hundred feet. 1t sickened Raf-
fles to think OF what would happen
when the maddened brutes should reach
the verge. In vain he shouted to Sui
tan. He looked back at the pursuing
horsemen. No hopo of aid there.
Then Tom remembered that road
led along the brow of the hill and final
ly turned down to the River Ravi at q
point whero the slope was not so pre-
cipitous. Like flash he formed des-
perate resolve.
Hold tight, my lad, he said. "I'm
going to leave You. 1t it comes to the
worst, jump off before we go over the
bluff. Do you understand!'
Bertie nodded. There was a grim
and plrcky expression on his pallid
face.
The next instant an agile spring land
ed Raffies on Nabob's back. BY cling
ing TO the stout harness he worked his
way forward. A second spring carried
him over the gap between the two Gle
plants, and he was quickly perched on
Sultan's neck.
Fortunately, the nahout had left the
prod sticking in tie harness. With this
Rafties belabored the unruly brute and
stTove to turn him to one side. He
stormed and threatened and called him
~ AA0AAASs VI a 4llllluAS VI 4-tCh 5ut-
pense the issue trembled in the balance.
Then, when the dizzy precipice was
only few yards distant, Sultan obeyed
the prod and swung to the left into the
road. Raffies waved his hand at Bertic.
Stick tight, lad, - he shouted.
But the danger was not yet over, nor
had the elephants recovered from their
fright. As lnadly as ever they dashed
along the rough road, at times swinging
perilously near to the outer verge. In
vain Rallies coaxed and threatened and
piled the prod.
{ OF their own accord the brutes took
the turn toward the river and swept
the heavy gun carriage down the hill
at a frightful speed. Bertio had all he
could do to keep his seat.
When the bottom of the hill was
reached, Raf1es vainly tried to turn the
elephants aside. They rushed madly
forward and clattered out on the pom
toon bridge which spanned the river.
In ridstream the frail structure gave
way, and elephants and gun went
through with u tremendous splash.
A plank struck BERTHE ON the head
with such force as to stun him. He
foundered helplessly alongside the
struggling elephants, who were sub
merged to their necks. From this
place of peril he was rescued by Raf-
fies, who caught his collar and swan
with him for shore. The swift current
bore them down some distance, and
when Rafiles finally landed with his
precious charge he was we'll nigh ex-
hausted.
a score of horsemen were quickly on
the spct-among them Colonel STRAIT
ford, who had been a witness of the
whole affair. AS he clasped Bertie in
his arms he looked at Rafies, and that
look was source of consolation in the
gloomy days that followed.
or course the review was spoiled, for
it took the rest of the day to get the
elephants and the gun out of the river.
That night, and for several succeed
ing nights, Raffles slept in his old cell.
Then, instead of appearing before q
court martial. he was reprimanded and
discharged.
He afterward had a private interview
with the colonel, and for a whole year
he was the best behaved soldier in tine
cantonments.
Then the sayages of the Chataquay
hills reYolted, and RafIies went eagerly
off to war, It was little bit of war,
but it was desperate enough for him to
earn a corporal's stripes and tho Vic
toria cross. which had been the anbi-
ton of his life.
RafIles attributes his good fortune to
BERTHE. and he is not far wrong. viii
liam Murray Graydon.