Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1895-05-10

most rapidly. 1 did tho same, my pro-
gross being hinderod, however, by my
heavy riding boots. We had no time to
secure our ponies, and the frightened
animals, as soon as they were released,
sprang nimbly through tho thiokets and
disappeared. and with them, Of course
vanished our only means Of escape from
the forest, even though tho elephants
should pass us by unframed.
We reached our position Of safety
none too soon. / could see the heavy
forest branches shaking violently, and
soon a huge gray mass broke through,
ehambling along at a remarkable rate
of speed, hot 20 yards from us and
screaming with vicious rage.
Its a rogue elephant, sahib," said
Ramon. "They are chasing him from
the herd.
Such indeed seemed to DO the case,
for 100 yards behind him came another
enormous figure, which was headed
straight for our place Of refuge. As by
lightning fash 1 saw the horrible death
that menaced MS. l already felt myself
falling to tho ground, in n second moro
TO be tramplod to death under those i'm
mense feet. But at that instant l heard
Ramon call out boldly, "Let.rah gaj'
(lie DOWN. Tho great beast paused.
"Let.rah, lot.rab. " again he cried, and
to my establishment the creature ODE
diontly went down upon its knees.
Ramon quickly descended, calling me
TO follow. Where n black leads, a white
man does not lag behind, and down l
went. l did not understand how the
magical transformation had been effect
cd, but as l turned and caught sight Of
the animal / c%omprehended it oil.
Around the great foreleg was a chain,
tho end Of which still trailed on tho
ground. The quick eye Of the native
had seen it. He knew hat the animal
must have been in captivity at some
time and called out the word Of COM
mand, hoping that it would DO obeyed.
He was not disappointed, for, although
the small Eyes still CLEANED with an
ugly red light and the trunk waved
mutinously i'll tho 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 tho brute and petted him
efrusively, calling him by every name
of endearment. "Ah, It's 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
Mowchal Thy slave salutes theel'
Truly enough it was our old Mowcha,
who, in spite of lapse of time and change
of place, bad not forgotten his old mas
tiers and the familiar word Of command.
All this had happened within q few
moments. The graf herd was still crash
ing through tho forest all around us,
trumpeting with rage and shaking the
ground in their fury. Should n OF
them chance to come near enough to
sec 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 q good paoo 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 us, 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, a somewhat
difficult task without the aid of harness
or howdah.
Briefly told, his strong, steady pace
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 t.
view the spectacle. When it was per
ceived that it was Mowcha, dear ole
Mowcha, who was bringing us back il
safety, a hearty cheer broke from al
throats, a cheer for my lord tho Gle
plant. The children clapped their hand
and shrieked with JOY, and even tn
soldiers shared the general enthusiasm
We gave my lord tho elephant a feas
such as mover elephant had had before
but he did not seem to enjoy tho dain
ties spread before him SO much as tn
moment when the howdah was place
on his back, and he was led forth, SUI
; rounded by the children, whom he ono
, more bore solemnly around the post.
For two days he remained with us an
! was the object Of attention and love
Then no became restless, and we fan
! cied he again longed for his forest hom'
I So the cruel chain was stricken off h
! huge foot. and my lord the elephan.
! with roses and branches wreathe
i around his great neck and hanging froi
his stubby tusks, was led forth and give
= his liberty. Our Animal Friends.
I Rolling Steel Tubes.
President Morton Of the celebrate
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