The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-03-07

yielding TO the influence of his sur
roundings, at last dropped on to
sleep.
1t was a curious sight, this group
OF unarmed. helpless men sleeping
peacefully. in that dense, traokless
forest, all unmindful OF the dangers
that encompassed them-all but one,
who, preferring safer spot, had Sc
lected small, grass-grown mound
some six feet high.
The night went by, and the first
grey light OF dawn was showing faint
ly through the trees when suddenly
succession of sharp, clear notes, as
OF a trumpet sounding the alarm,
broke the deathlike stiffness. The
sleepers started to their feet and lis
tened Again that dreaded sound
was heard, now much nearer. Then,
ere the last note of 1t had ceased,
huge elephant emerged into the open.
With trunk upraised and ears prlcked
forward he paused awhile, trying to
locate the spot when proceeded the
scent he had detected. Then with
savage scream of rage he charged
down upon the helpless group. But
they had anticipated the attack and,
before the furious beast could span
the distance that divided them, had
already gained the shelter of the
trees. There was no one left but
Pembu and the trembling wretch
upon the mound. The former, lying
bound and helpless within the shadow
of the tree, remained unnoticed Not
so the other, who, paralyzed with
fear, made no attempt to escape.
Perched on the summit of the mound
he was a conspicuous object, even in
that uncertain light, and the infuri.
ated elephant sighted him at once. In
stride or two it had reached the
mound, and, seizing the wretched
man with its trunk, dashed him to
the ground, placed one huge foot
upon his chest, and fairly tore him to
pieces, limb by limb! His comrades.
watching the awful spectacle from
their retreat, were powerless to assist
him, and 1t was not until the savage
beast had completed it's CHASTITY work
and moved away that they ventured
to come out.
The sight they then beheld was
one to fill the stoutest heart with ter
ror, for there at their feet lay all that
was left of their late comrade-a
shapeless mass of flesh and broken
bones. They gazed at the terrible
spectacle in speechless horror; then
one of them pointed to the prisoner,
still lying where they had left him,
but unharmed! The others read his
meaning in the gesture. and Won
dered, too, why he of all others had
been spared-the murderer and vio-
lator of the sacred oath, who had so
we'll merited the vengeance of the
dreaded beast.
Kishto wondered, too. but for
many different reasons - reasons
which filled him with dire alarm,
despite his yaunted scepticism and
contempt for the traditions of his
race. The incident had wrought an
extraordinary change in the man.
He was no longer mindful of the
prisoner, but, starting at every rustic
of leaf, looked anxiously around, as
il expecting the elephant to return
and claim another victim. His COM
panions could not but notice this sud-
den change, but attributed it to the
tragic death of his friend. Collecting
their belongings they unfastened
Pembu from the tree and all proceed
ed on their way:
BY midday they arrived at. Tura
and took the prisoner to the court.
Kishto, who bythis time had regained
his ordinary composure, was now di-
rected to state his case. Refusing
with scorn to take the Caro- oath, he
was sworn in the ordinary way and
proceeded with his tale. He told his
story well until he reached the in
cident in the clearing, but here he
| faltered and seemed unable to pro-
ceed. Looking helplessly around the
court, his eye fell on the prisoner
gazing at him accusingly; in an in
stant the expression of his face
changed, and, apparently obeying
sudden impulse, he threw himself
at the magistrates feet and begged
| to be forgiven. Then rising to his
knees he placed his hands together.
and in this humble posture related
the true story of the crime.
He told how he and his friend had
planned the murder, and how the
latter had stabbed the old man, while
he slept, with Pembu's knife, which
they had previously secured. They
had concealed it and the anklets In
the roof of Pembu's hut, and then
falsely accused him of the murder.
They would have sworn away his life
but for the vengeance of the gods,
which had so promptly overtaken his
accomplice. Kishto then went on to
describe the terrible scene he had
witnessed in the forest and how the
recollection of 1t had haunted him,
and ultimately forced him to confess
the share he had taken in the crime.
Trembling. he paused awhile; then,
as if impelled by some feeling he was
powerless to resist he repeated the
ancient oath he had just so scorn-
fully rejected,
Pembu and his sweetheart were
duly welded, while the villainous
Kishto was hanged for the murder OF
the old money-lender. And In that
| asakt- ..ltt..o .,,ld -. 80