The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-01
The Transformation of Bayal
The P0rcupine

unti ne cIttus IN tiae hSsehe aaS"'
form, me, | implore yous into an ele.
phant."
1T shall be done declared Athlos.
The form Of the porcupine changed
swlled and grew big. Almos; before
he realized the change he stood tower
ing above the brushwood wherein he had
been wont to hide. Between his glitter
ing eyes huge gray trunk waved. curl
ing and mcurling at his will. His chest
was broad and deep; limbs huge as tree
trunks supported his vast body. He
He raised his head and blew u shrill
triumphant bhst from his throat. Ana
then he tramped away through the will
dorness. b.,llowing again and again In
the exhuberanee OF his Joy.
He was great ss the greatest; mighty
as the mightiest; Lord of oil the wildes'
nessl But in the elephants body was
talla xzf I Wig xra ethgihiiqemfwt
the soul Of Bayal the roruplne. (
lie did not stop to think OF that. lie
did nat think at all, In those moments
of his transformation. He simply GO.
ried in his size.
A python SWING from tree The
elephant caught il with hs trunk, dashed
IL upon the ground. and tramplcd vic.
io,lSly upon it through very wanton'
ness. Then he marched ON.
Presently he deserted herd Of other
elephants In a distant grove. lie ap'
approached them, proud and arrogant
They looked upon him curiously ~ he
drew near. but continued to feed with
calm Indifference. That did not please
Bayal. lie could see very well that he
was taller than any OF the herd.
These were his peppf nbw. ie
thrust himself into the group with i'm,
pressive dignity, shouldering aside an
old bull who seemed to be their leader.
And the bull, with an angry cry, drew
back and faced the intruder.
No one warned Bayal; but the other
elephants moved away slowly from his
yiciniy, and before ne realized that he
was in danger the old bull, with lowered
head and below OF defiance, came
rushing toward him with sudden speed
His own tusks were larger and sharp
er than those Of his antagonist but
Bayal did not know how 10 use them.
Moreover he was taken by surprise.
The shock threw him far back upon bis
launches; there was ripping, tearing
sound, and he became conscious OF q
dull pain in his great chest. He looked,
with startled eyes, at the angry bull
who had charged him. The fierce leader
of the herd had retreated a few PAGES
and now, with red eyes and uplifted
trunk was~about TO rush again.
In the elephants body was the soul
of Bayal the Porcupine. He did not
await the onslaught, but, swinging his
huge bulk around, he fled with marvel.
lous speed, trimpeting with terror AZ
he went.
The rent in his breast alarmed him.
When, miles away from the scene Of
his humiliation and defeat, he paused
to find he was not pursued, the pain Of
his body oyerame his fear Of mind, and
he stood still and trembled.
What could a wounded elephant do
to seek relief! And why should his
own people have turned against himv
Was he not an elephantl The poreu'
pines, he remembered, never interfered
with their fellows, nor fought them
Were elephants less considerate Of their
kindi Perhaps he had made a mistake
after all TO choose becoming an ele.
phant.
"Athlos! Oh, Athlos--come to mel"
he moaned. And Athlos responded to
the call and came to him.
II was wrong, Athlos, 10 wish TO be.
come an elephant" he said, his big body
swaying from side to side with faint
ness. "Give me, beg Of you, another
forml"
'Will you be porcupine again." said
the fairy gently.
"No, not that" he cried shuddering.
lyj "but elephants are very big-too
bigi And they are ugly. and herd in
families, and have no welcome for stran-
gers. ! would be a smaller animal,
smaller and yet strong and masterful.
Give me, implore you, the form Of a
black bearl"
80 shall II be-" the fairy answered
signing; and Bayal felt himself shrink
away and change in form. A moment
more and the elephant shape, with its
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