Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-02-05

be murdered by villanious ser
want, whom no one would suspect
Of the deed.
had stepped backward, fee ling
behind me for tree which lmight
use as shelter and so gam a
little time: but all at once | struck
my foot against a stone and went
down. In au instant Sellm was
ever me, his cruel face bent down
and the steel pointed weapon held
against my throat.
We had both forgotten the ele'
phant. One sees a great deal at
such 4 time, aud while | laS there
with the weapon at my throat
aud death but "A moment away l
saw the hugs bulk rushing toward
us. Ah, then Ahmed would XIII
me instead of s lin, ! Thought;
aud felt a grim y at the ans
disappointment; ard theu-
Then saw something tWiEe a.
round Selim's body aud heard him
give a cry of agony and fear as
Aimed swung him alOft. Round
and round he went, revolving IN
the air as though be were "A feather
blown about in an eddy OF vino.
Z hmed was preparing to dash
him 10 death on the rocks.
was on my feet as soon as L
conld think aud in the midst oi
mortal fear of the huge animal l
sri,I had presence IF mlnd euOrgh
TO think that | might calm hl". l
spoke To hlm, and the RAPID "hlrl'
Ing Of he body slnckrnrd. i lald
m, hand on the side Of his head
aid patted the quIveIlng trunk,
and il SLOWLY uncOiled aud drOpp-
ed Srlim 10 the ground
| did not dare To- look alter him.
for | could not take my eyes "il
Ahmed. van conscious tha'
5 lin laS there tor "A moment, ana
then began TO crawl awa>, ahd
tnat atlrr he bad gone le" Nards
he aro>r aud 1-w without looking
brhind hun. Twas several miles
from hnme, alone With au elephant
and | knew nOthlng about man'
aging him and was not at all sure
what were his Intentions ahOut
me.
.Ahned,' 1 said, p'tIing MN
gently. Poor Ahmed'
He caressed me with his trunk,
and showed every Indication oil
affection, and in "A few moments
b,pan 10 regain my confidence.
would try to take the elephant
bone, at any rate.
| would not take the weapon
which SeIm had used, aud which
had come so near ending my days
[ called TO him. Come along
Aimed aud started home~ard'
and Nithout the least heSl'a ION
Ahmed walked beside me. as gen
tie and harmless in appearance as
a pet dog.
What CONSERVATION there was
when appeared at the mouse
with the elephant! Ahmed sto'
in the yard beside me while | told
IN, story, and caressed me Will
h,s trunk and even rihed M
pockets of the pieces OF cake l
had taken for him that mornlnI
and bad forgotten.
well, what are we gong 70 d'
noei SAID Mr.. Franklin obviously
1T is very hard to hnd a good
keeper, especially at this seaso'
of the year, and that bridge nus
be built at once
| volunteered to 20 to town an
ind a keeper, and | was sure ther
would be no trouble about 1t. b 4
soon found that elephant Keep
ers we're rare, aud hat the ia ~
of Ahmed b sd gOne forth, aut
none of them would undertak
the care OF Al el-ph ,nt that hau
rebplIed and co ne so near ki II"
his last keeper.
There's only one way tn MAJ
age IT,. | said that night when
zen home. Il sIlI ttKe All ~
d WA TO mOrr,w 'nI nfke III
Iva ID The bridge
There was general shout
honor, and every body had nev'
heard OF such thing and al
not know what l was undertaking
and would be sure to be kllle
| waited till the storm had su0sl'
ed, and then l told them that
would try it, anyway, anu II a
} not succeed, why then some oth'
plan must be devised.
1t must be confessed tnat
, looked at Ahmed 1.-THE next NOR
t ing with n good deal OF trepld
Il 80.