The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-03-23
FOB BOYS AND GIRLS
INTERESTING READING FOR THE
YOUNG.

influence Of Good CIothes-A kit
ten and I'm Alligator.
Some years ago a famous hunter,
travelling through India in search Of
and information, was met
by a deputation of natives from a
small village, WHO asked his protection
from All elephant that had taken up
its residence nea their town.. Not
only had the great animal again and
again destroyed their crops, but it had
killed several men. Altogether, tie
elephant was the terror Of the large
AMI formerly prosperous community.
The hunter assured the natives that
he would try to destroy their enemy,
and he at once made his preparations.
The stranger was an experienced ell
ephant hunter, having followed the
great beasts wherever found, in At
RIGA, Ceylon and India. He knew at
nee that this troublesome fellow vas
what is known as a '~rogue"-as term
given to elephants that are vicious,
not simply roguish-brutes that try
to destroy everything, especially the
property and lives Of men.
First lie must learn, If possible, the
ways and habits Of this especial rogue,
and, with that object in view, he con-
suited the head men and hunters Of
several villages. One man stated
that the rogue was possessed Of an
evil spirit; that on one day it would
visit n locality, and the next day
be heard Of many miles away. AS to
its actions, the man said, it suddenly
came from a dense jungle neal his
native town and dashed through the
streets at midday, tearing houses to
and utterly wrecking the neighbor-
hood. 1t also killed many people, after
which 1t was seen quietly feeding in
the gardens near the town.
Another native told n similar story.
This time the rogue appeared at night,
broke down fences, and destroyed the
crops. Whe1 ~ed upon, it rushed
into a small village, doing much dam
age and driving the inhabitants to the,
woods
Still another mar reported that for
weeks a public road between two vii
lagos had been deserted by every one,
because the rogue had taken posses
sion. The man added that at the
time Of the hunters coming the ele-
plant was destroying the rice fields
about the town, the people being pow
erless to prevent him.
This evidence was sufficient to show
that the elephant sas a sly and vic
ious rogue, and must be approached
with caution.
Ten or fifteen elephants that could
be relied upon were engaged, and also
a force of experienced hunters and
drivers. Early one morning the party
set out for the capture Of the rogue
thea supposed to be about thirty miles
away.
Finally they reached the neighbor.
hood in which the rogue was sup
posed to be hiding. The hunter
found that the villagers had told nc
more than the truth. The people were
In a state Of terror, not knowing at
what moment the huge animal nigh,
rush u upon them. The night be
fore it had been seen feeding in the
rice fields, and probably 1t was MOI
far away. After seeing his men and
elephants established in camp, the
hunter went with the head man of the
village to look over the ground.
The head man was greatly excited
and told some marvellous stories about
the elephant and its doings. He
showed the newcomers a field where
the fences had been razed to thu
ground and trampled TO pieces, an(
the crops eater or destroyed. The
rogue had been there the previous
night, and as it would return again tc
oon3;p,,n fte fooct ,rnnr u,ho% xxro g loft
the sportsmen decided to await il
there. In the center Of a patch Of
grain was a framework platform o.
scaffolding, built by the natives tt
serve the purpose of an American
scarecrow. 1t was large enough for
few natives to stand upon. The!
frightened away birds or beasts b.
beating tomtoms and making Othe
loud noises.
The hunter informed the native
that he would station himself on tn
scaffolding that evening and shoot tn
rogue when it come to finish it's meal
: The head man shook his head, ant
replied that it was a piece Of grea
danger: but the sportsman insisted
and night found him lying upon tn
%scaffolding with several gun-bearers
while others were hidden about tn
field.
The rogue usually appeared about
, o'clock: but that hour had passed, an
midnight came without signs of il
; AS the hours passed on, the watcher
began to think that possibly the AM
: NAL had made one of his sudde.
marches and was now far away.
Suddenly a snort was heard, and tn
: next moment a big form could b
: made out standing among the vegita
= ton. 1t was the elephant. 1t ha'
!, approached so quietly that no n ha
I, heard it. The sportsman leveled hi
. heavy rifle. and, when he saw a goo
opportunity, fired. The answer was
! snort, seemingly of defiance, while tn
!, animal charged in the direction froI
: which the flash appeared. Findin
= only the scaffolding, the rogue seize
|, it, and with a single wrench hurled
= to the ground. Fortunately, the me
: were thrown several yards away, ant
a falling among the vegetation were NJ
Y injured. While they made their wa
. to cover the rogue rushed off into tn
: woods. That it was wounded the
discovered the following day, and c
a second occasion the animal we
killed by the intrepid hunter, WI
might easily have lost his life at tt
n time the s%caffolding was pulled dow
&C. F. Holder in January st. Nichola
y Life Blood of a Great City.