The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-06-29

miscalculated and had allowed too much
fuse between the cracker and string for
an explosion high in air. Just after the
tiny speck vanished behind one of the
smaller tents, Jack heard it explode, fol-
lowed instantly by scream that made
Jacks hair rise. Out from behind the
tent shot a huge black beast. tearing
across the fields with awkward, lumber
ing strides, but wonderfully fast. 1t
was the elephant! With trunk thrown
up and back of its head, and trumpeting
shrilly. it made straight toward Jack,
smashing down the rail fences in its path
as if they were straws, his keeper in full
pursuit, hopelessly distanced. From the
big tent began to pour out a strange
motley crowd of townspeople. painted
clowns and scantily dressed bareback
riders to see what had happened. For Il
moment Jack, too frightened to move
watched the huge beast bearing down
upon him, then he fed for the hayloft
in the barn, and through crack watch
ed the mad race. Straight on came the
elephant, nor did he stop for an instant
at Miss AIMS nice picket fence; it
crashed down as had the rails before it.
Then the runaawy caught sight of the
big, wide-open barn doors Miss Ann had
told Jack to close them that afternoon,
and probably seeing safety In the dark
recesses of the barn, rushed in, where he
stood trumpeting and trembling with
fright. A few minutes later Jack heard
the keeper close the doors and say 70
the crowd coming up, that he would shut
the elephant in for awhile until he had
Gained down. Then the keeper told how
someone, he didn't know who, had
thrown cracker in front of the big
beast Just as the latter was drinking,
and the runaway had resulted.
Meantime Jack was in an unhappy
predicament and retreated to a far cor
ner of the NOW, the cold chills chasing
each other down his back as he heard
the heavy breathing of the elephant be-
low. Gradually the elephant grew quiet
er and Jacks courage began to come
back. He could hear old Nell whinnying
with fright and stamping uneasily in her
stall. Curiosity got the better of him
and he wanted to see what was going on
below. Cautiously. inch by inch, he
crept to the edge of the NOV. In the
dim light he could see the back of the
elephant not two feet below him. The
animal was quiet now. Presently he
noticed the long trunk feeling along the
edge of the NOW and examining the new
quarters, so he beat retreat once more.
The new hay was not yet in, and the
small amount of old hay left was at the
back of the NOW. 4 rustling on the
edge of it caught his attention and he
made out the elephants trunk stretch
ing for the hay, Which it could not
reach. Cautiously he held out wisp.
1t was taken and the trunk disappeared.
A minute later it was back again. So
Jack continued to feed the elephant
and growing bolder, crawled to the edge
again, having a bundle of hay in his
hands. This time the elephant saw him,
and before he could retreat the big
trunk had caught him and deftly, but
gently, lifted him down. The hay he
still held, ard timidly offering it, it was
promptly accepted.
A few minutes later the keeper opened
the doors. to find to his astonishment his
big charge and small boy on the best
of terms, and when the elephant was or
dered out. he refused to move without
Jack. "Pick him up, Mike" ordered the
keeper, so, gently. the elephant placed
Jack on his back and the procession
started for the circus tents once more.
Jack the envy of all. the boys in the
village. and Miss Ann realizing her help
lessness in the situation.
The show management settled for the
broken fences, but Miss Ann still retains
her prejudice against circusses. As for
Jack, to this day no one knows who
dropped the cracker in front of Mike.
Jack looks back to that Fourth. when
the circus came to him. because he could
not go to it, as the greatest celebration
ha oyar had -Or,opa Iudd Farmer