The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-19

AAVAA. ~S4o" II Ndlit along WlCn
loud jingle of bells and kissing of
steam.
1t was a most unfortunate encounter
VI the whole IL elephants but two were
unaccustomcd to the railway. Sultan
ana Nabob, who drew Rallies gun car
rlage, both hated and feared the steam
cars. They reared and plunged and
trumpctcd slrilly. Then. mad with
terror and deaf to the exhortations and
proddinS of the native mahouts. they
broke out of line and dashed up Il 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 spurrcd after the fugitives on horse
back. Then, by special order, q troop
of cavalry clattercd over the plain. The
ambulance corps wisely followed.
This is serious. Stratford," said tho
governor general. Il know what mad
elephants are. The brutes will likely
plunge over yonder bluff" Peering
through his feldglasses, he added,
There is some ono on the carriage be-
side the gunner
Tho colonel took tho glasses with a
trembling hand. 1T is Berthe" he
gasped, and digging the spurs into his
horse he was off like whirwind
Meanwhile tho huge, panic stricken
elephants had actually gained on their
pursuers as they strobe recklessly ND
the hill, over rocks, bushes and every
thing that came in their way. Rallies
realized the danger. Ho had but one
thought-how to save Bertie.
The lads first impulse was to Jump.
but Rafflcs caught and held him.
You ii break your neck if you try
that. he cried. Trust to me- -
Sido by side they chung to tho narrow
seat. 1t was a miracle that they were
not pitched off. Finding they could do
nothing with the maddcncd brutes, both
drivers jumped at the Same instant.
One poor fellow struck head first on a
rock and never moved. The other land
ed Ill some bushes, but he was not far
enough out OF tho way. He uttered IL
piercing scream rs tho heavy wheels
rolled over his leg.
Beltio shivercd 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 ut IL frightfu anglo for
several hundred feet. 1t sickened Raj
flies to think of what would happcn
when the maddcncd brutes should reach
tho 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. Likna flash he formed a dcs-
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 underestimate
BERTHE nodded. There was a grim
and plucky expression OH his palid
face.
The next instant an agile spring land
ed Rallies OH Nabobs back. BY cling
ing to the stout harness no worked his
way forward. A second spring carried
him over the gap between tho two clc-
plants, and he was quickly perched on
Sultan's neck.
Fortunately, the mahout had left the
prod sticking i'll the harness. With this
Rallies belabored the unruly brute and
strovo to turn him to one side. He
stormcd and threatened and called him
by name. For IL minute of keen sus-
pense the issue tremblcd in the balance.
Then, when the dizzy precipico was
only Il few yards distant, Sultan obcvcd
the prod and swung to the left into the
road. Rallies 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, ut times swinging
perllously near to tho outer verge. In
vain Ratiles coaxed and threatened and
piled the prod.
Or their own accord the brutcs took
tho tur toward the river and swept
the heavy gun carriage down the hill
at frightful speed. BERTHE had all he
could do to keep his seat.
When the bottom of the hill was
reached, Rallies vainly tried to turn the
elephants aside. They rushed madlv
forward and clattered out on tho pom
toon bridge which SPAWNED the river.
In midstream the frail structure gave
way, and elephants and gun went
through with Il tremendous splash.
A plank struck Bcrtio on the head
with such force rs to stun him. He
fioundercd helplcssly alongside the
struggling elephants, who wcro sub
merged to their necks. From this
place of peril he was rescued by Raj
files, who caught his collar and swan
with him for shore. The swift current
bore them down some Distance. and