Brookings register. (Brookings, S.D.) 1890-1894, 1894-04-06

IL IN AFRAID you III get IN trouble Tor
this" interrupted Raffies, pretending
not to understand. The colonel will
be furious to see an outsider on gun
carriage at such time. Why, we're
right III the middle of the review"
He don't see me yet," said BERTHE.
Hes too much taken with his lord
ship. Anyway l can't jump off now.'
This was true, since the battery was
trundling along at rapid gait. Raj
fies accepted the situation without fur
ther comment.
The battery was performing a cir
cular movement which was to bring it
in triumph past the governor general
and staff. 1t was now on the opposite
side of the circle and close to the tracks
of the Peninsular railway.
Just as the leading gun carriage
veered off to left, the fast express train
from Peshawn came dashing along with
loud Jingle of bells and kissing of
steam.
1t was most unfortunate encounter.
Of the whole 12 elephants but two were
unaccustomed to the railway. Sultan
riage, both hated and feared the steam
cars. They reared and plunged and
trumpeted shriIly. Then, mad with
terror and deaf to the exhOrtatiOns and
prodding of the native mahouts, they
broke out of line and dashed up rocky
hillside, straight away from the re-
viewing staff and the rest of the force.
The disaster was instantly observed.
| There was no lack of discipline. The
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. The
ambulance corps wisely followed.
This is serious, Stratford," said the
governor general. II know what mad
elephants are. The brutes will likely
plunge over yonder bluff. Peering
There is some one on the carriage be-
side the gunner.
The colonel took the glasses with
trembling hand. 1T is Bertie," 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 strode recklessly up
the hill, over rocks, bushes and every
thing that came in their way. Raffles
realized the danger. He had but one
thought-how to save Bertie.
The lads first impulse Vas to jump,
but Ratfies caught and held him.
You'll break your neck if you try
that" he cried. Trust to me"
Side by side they clung to the narrow
seat. 1t was a miracle that they Wee
nothing with the maddened brutes, both
drivers jumped at the same instant.
One poor fellow struck head first on a
rock and never moved. The other land
ed in some bushes, but he was not far
enough out Of the way. He uttered
piercing scream as the heavy wheels
rolled over his leg.
Bertie shivered and clung tighter to
his companion. The elephants dashed
on faster than ever. Just ahead was
the top of the hill The other side
dropped down at frightful angle for
/ several hundred feet. 1t sickened Raj
hes 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 hope of aid there.
Then Tom remembered that a road
| led along the brow of the hill and final
! ly turned down to the River Raw at a
point where the slope was not SO pre-
cipitous. Like fash 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 plucky 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 ele-
plants, and he was quickly perched on
Sultan's neck.
Fortunately, the mahout had left the
prod sticking in the harness. With this
Raffies belabored the unruly brute and
strove to turn him to one side. He
stormed and threatened and called him
by name. For minute Of keen sus-
pense the issue trembled in the balance.
Then, when the dizzy precipice was
only few yards distant, Sultan obeyed