Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1895-03-05
NEW SERIES, VOL. xxx. NO. 10.

most rap1Q1Gy. i Qlu the SsslHc, IA9 ~
gress being hindered. however, by my
heavy riding boots. We had no time &c
secure our ponies, and the frightened
animals, as soon as they We're released,
sprang nimbly through tho thickets and
disappeared, and with them, OF course,
vanished our only means OF escape from
the forest, even though the elephants
should pass rs by unharmed.
We reached our position OF safety
none too soon. could sec the heavy
forest branches shaking violently, and
soon huge gray mass broke through.
shambling along at remarkable rate
of speed, not 20 yards from Us and
screaming with vicious rage.
s.It's rogue elephant, sahib, " said
Ramon. ''They are chasing him from
the herd.
Such indeed seemed to be tho case,
for 100 yards behind him came another
enormous figure, which was headed
straight for our place of refuge. AS by
lightning fash saw the horrible death
that mensced us. 1 already felt myself
falling TO tho ground, in second more
to bo trampled to death under those i'm
mense feet. But at that instant heard
Ramon call ont boldly, ''Let-rah gaj''
(lie DOWN. The great beast paused.
s'Let-rah, let-rah, - again he cried, and
to my astonishment the creature obe-
diently went down upon its knees.
Ramon quickly descended, calling me
to follow. Where black leads, white
man does not lag behind, and down ]
went. 1 did not understand how tho
magical traL Sformation had been effect
ed, but as turned and caught sight of
tho animal K comprehunded 1t oil
Around the great foreleg was 0 chain,
the end of which still trailed ON tho
ground. The quick eye of tho 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 cves still cleaned with an
ugly red light and tho 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
effusively, calling him by every name
of endearment. ''Ah, it's thou, my lord
tho elephantl IT'S thou, leader OF the
herd, wiser than the wise men of the
temple, beautiful as lotus bud, strong
as tho winds of hcaveni o great Lord
Mowchal Thy slave salutes theei"
Truly enough it was our old Mowcha,
who, in spite of lapse of time and change
of place, had not forgotten his old mas
ters 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 tc
see us our lives would not be worth .
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 of at good pace IN
tho direction opposite to that taken by
the rest of his fellows. and soon their
screams and thunderiDgs had died away.
We wondered whezo my lord the
elephant intended to convey us, whether
to his native junglcs or to the post
again. Ramon tried to guido him. bnt
found it impossible without the help
of tho usual ankus, or Road, SO we con-
fined our efforts to keeping our balance
and staying on his back, q somewhat
difficult tasI; 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 ont 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
throats, cheer for my lord the ele-
phant. Tho children clapped their hands
and shrieked with joy, and oven 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 soIemnIy 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
oied he again longed for his forest home
So the cruel chain was stricken of Lis
huge foot, and my lord the elephant,
with roses and branches wreathed
around his great neck and hanging from
his stubby tusks, was led forth and given
his liberty. Our Animal Friends.