Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-03-16

VI the whole IL elephants but two were
unaccustomed to the railway. Sultan
and Nabob, who drew Raffles' gun car
riage, both hated and feared the steam
cars. They reared and plunged aud
trumpeted shrilly. Then, mad with
terror and deaf to the exhortations and
prodding of the native mahouts, they
broke out Of line and dashed up a 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
through his fieldglasses, he added,
"There is some one on the carriage be-
side the gunner.
The colonel took the glasses with
trembling hand. SIT 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 recklessly up
the hill, over rocks, bushes and every
thing that came in their way. Raffies
realized the danger. He had but one
thought-how to save BERTHE.
The lads first impulse was to jump,
but Raffies caught and held him.
you'll break your neck if you try
that, he CRIED Trust to me. -
Side by side they chung to the narrow
seat. 1t was miracle that they were
not pitched off. Finding they could do
nothing with the maddened brutes, both
drivers jumped at the same instant.
One poor fellow struck head first on
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.
BERTHE shivered and chung 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 a frightful angle for
several hundred feet. 1t sickened Raj
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 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
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"
BERTHE 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 ho worked his
way forward. A second spring carried
him over the gap between the two ele-
plants, and he was quickly perched ON
Gultan's neck.
Fortunately, the mahout had left the
prod sticking in the harness. With this
Raffles 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
the prod and swung to the left into the
road. Ratfles waved his hand at BERTHE.
"Stick tight, lad" he shouted.
But the danger was not yet over, nor
had the elephants recovered from their
fright. AS madly as ever they dashed
along the rough road, at times swinging
perilously near to the outer verge. In
| vain Ratfles 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 frightful speed. Bertio had all he
could do to keep his seat.
When the bottom of the hill was
reached, Raffies vainly tried to turn the
elephants aside. They rushed madly
forward and clattered out on the pom
toon bridge which spanned the river.
In midstream the frail structure gave
way, and elephants and gun went
through with 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 SUBJ
merged to their necks. From this
place of peril he was rescued by Raj
fles, who caught his collar and swan
with him for shore. The swift current
bore them down some distance, and
when Raffles finally landed with his
precious charge he was we'll nigh OK
hausted.
A score Of horsemen were quickly on
the spot-among them Colonel STRAIT
ford, who had been witness of tho
whole affair. As he claspsd BERTHE in
his arms he looked at Ratiies, and that
look was source Of consolation in the
gloomy days that followed.
Of 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 a
court martial, he was reprimanded and
discharged.
He afterward had a private interview
with the colonel, and for whole year
he was the best behaved soldier in the
cantonments.
Then tho savages Of the Chataquay
hills revolted, and Ratfles went eagerly
OFT to war. 1t was little bit of war,
but 1t was desperate enough for him to
earn corporal's stripes and the Vic