The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-02

supported n strong creeping vine. up which
i clam bered, expecting every instant 30 fee
that fatal trunk coiled around my body.
just in front was Jeshwunt Rao, {
shattered thigh bent under him. and shrek
ing with pain. The elephant had gone /; bui
he soon came back, racing towards this Gn-
fortunate wretch, whom it was impossible
TO assist. He put his foot upon him and
wrenched away the mans limbs. Uncon-
sciOus aud involuntary cries must have
burst from my throat, for he looked up at
where crouched. My friends, both OF you
have seen strange and terrible sights and
before this happened ! had sal just out OF
reach from wounded tiger, as he ramped
and ragged below but nobody ever saw
such spectacle as that mad beast.
Those red eyes Of his wore 4 look the
likeness Of which one only beholds in fever
dreams. There was not q muscle N him
VIII e lie reached after me that q ID not ex-
press fell and deadly Late. Finally, after
trying IN vain on al sides he went off, and
We at length reassem bled, minus three men. "
You shot him, though" said De>borough.
Truly ] did, but not for some time after
wards. when We were hall dead wiih anx iety
and exhaustion. This direiu animal led US
hard life, and yet we never were on time
/ began 10 think there must be more than
ono. Finally the scourge disappeared; not
rumOr concerning his whereabouts reached
us; vet Al the eud OF this short period o.
peace and rest we met again-tben pittei
fairly his mighty strength against the skill
that would enable me to fire a single, certain
shot.
AS for second chance. ] did not CON
slGer it, knowing The consequences OF a rise.
and having decided not To pal. trigger until
his charge brought him within 20 PAGES. SO
that the brain, barring an accident. could
NOT fail TO be reached.
90 that evening which ended orr long
pursuit we came into small thongh Deauti-
fully situated rliIage-only some few dw ell
ings scattered around an open space TIE
monsoon WAS breaking, and sunset clothed
the sky in ineXpressible sp,endor. A cool.
moist air stirred, and ] let it, breath with
that delightful SENSE Of relief which one
must live in India To appreciate
Confused outcries arose while ! sat
dreaming under a sacred Bo tree, followed
instantly by All elephants irightful scream ::
then the settlement was deserted in less time
than ii would take TO tell OF its populations
flight.
" / dashed into hut, seized my rife, and
got back to the clearing just as he appeared,
looming against red horizon. and looking
as only rogue elephants can look Ny i'm
preston Is that the motionless figure be
beheld there puzzled him. All the men he
had seen instantly fled in terror; why did
this contemplate little being stand still /?
Some such reflections, no doubt, passed
through the creatures mind but they did not
last long. fury fit was Oh him. his ears
cooked, the great trunk swung b. gh, aud he
swept down upon me with the rush of
storm.
1t seemed intolerably long before his
savage eagcrness to catch an anticipated
victim caused that protecting trunk TO be
lowered and writhe itself out in front But at
last / saw The hollow above H. my ball struck
true center, and his colossal body crashed
down, breaking off a tusk as ii fell.
This" concluded Beilvile. "is the only
proper way TO meet an Indian elephant:
still, il Is rather trying to ones nerves."