Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-03-08

| &AAOdAS G11O S51Oao LII OACS w do d Cudlus
the end of which still trailed on the
ground. The quick eye of the native
had seen it. He knew that the animal
must have been in captivity at some
time and called out the word of COM
mand, hoping that it would be obeyed.
He was not disappointed, for, although
the small eyes still cleaned with an
ugly red light and the trunk waved
mutinously in the air, the great crea-
ture had not forgotten his former train
ing. We approached him cautiously at
first, but presently Ramon rushed fear
lessly up to the brute and petted him
efusively, calling him by every name
of endearment. "Ah, tits thou, my lord
the elephant! IT'S thou, leader Of the
herd, wiser than the wise men of the
temple, beautiful as a lotus bud, strong
as the winds of heavenl o great Lord
Mowcha! Thy slave salutes theel''
Truly enough it was our old Mowcha,
who, in spite Of lapse Of time and change
of place, had not forgotten his old mas
tiers and the familiar word of command.
All this had happened within few
moments. The graf herd was still crash
ing through the forest all around us,
trumpeting with rage and shaking the
ground in their fury. Should one of
them chance to come near enough to
see us our lives would not be worth a
farthing. Mowcha seemed to under
stand the situation perfectly. for, his
anger all gone, he seized Ramon gently
with his strong trunk and set him upon
his neck, where the mahout usually
rides. He grasped me with the same
ease and placed me beside him. Then
he rose and started off at good pace in
the direction opposite to that taken by
the rest of his fellows, and soon their
screams and thunderings had died away.
We wondered where my lord the
elephant intended to convey u.s. whether
to his native jungles or to the post
again. Ramon tried to guide him. but
found it impossible without the help
of the usual ankus, or goad, SO we con-
fined our efforts to keeping our balance
and staying on his back, somewhat
difficult task without the aid Of harness
or howda
bIlouy tOlU, LIS StIOuS, 6t0duy pstC0
never failed for over ten hours, until
We entered the post again. Our ap-
proach had been deserted from afar,
and every living soul had turned out to
view the spectacle. When it was per-
ceived that it was Mowcha, dear old
Mowcha, who was bringing us back in
safety, hearty cheer broke from all
Threats, cheer for my lord the ele-
plant The children clapped their hands
and shrieked with joy, and even the
soldiers shared the general enthusiasm.
We gave my lord the elephant feast
such as never elephant had had before,
but he did not seem to enjoy the dain-
ties spread before him SO much as the
moment when the howdah was placed
on his back, and he was led forth, sur
rounded by the children, whom he once
more bore solemnly around the post.
For two days he remained with us and
was the object of attention and love-
Then he became restless, and we fan
cied he again longed for his forest home
So the cruel chain was stricken off his
huge foot, and my lord the elephant,
with roses and branches wreatheda
around his great neck and hanging from
his stubby tusks, was led forth and given
his liberty. Our Animal Friends.