Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-08-20

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gray mass of the great brute still al
vancing toward the hut.
Then the light went out altogether,
and I had to trust to my ears.
heard him fumbling with his trunk.
apparently at the roof of the hut.
Next came sound as OF straw being
drawn out. and then for little While
there was complete silence.
The cloud began to pass.
I could see the outline Of the ele-
plant; he was standing with his head
right over the top of the hut.
But I could not see his trunk. ana
no wonder, for 1t was inside the hut.
He had thrust it right through the
roof, and attracted, 10 doubt. by the
smell of the mealies, was cropping about
with 1t inside.
1t was growing light now, and l got
nv rife ready, when suddenly there
was a most awful yell. and | saw the
trunk reappear. and in its mighty FOLD
the old woman who had been sleeping
in the hut.
Out she CAM through the hole like
periwinkle on the point Of n pin. still
wrapper up in her blanket. and her
skinny legs and arms stretched to the
four points Of the compass. and ms she
did so gave the most alarming screech.
| really don't know who was the
most frightened. she or I. Jr the e!e'
plant.
At any rate. the last was consider
ably startled; he had been fishing for
mealies-the old woman was mere
accident. and ore that greatly discom'
posed his nerves.
lie gave a sort of trumpet. and threw
ner away from him right into the
crown CT low minosa tree. where she
stuck. shrieking like II metropolitan
engine.
The old bull lifted his tail. and flap
ping his great ears, prepared for fight
put up my eiCht-bore. and aiming
hastily Mt the point Of his shoulder
TOR lie was broadside ON. l fired.
The report rang out like thunder
making a thousand echoes in the quiet
hills.
saw him 60 down all of n heap. a.
though he We're stone dead.
Then. alas! whether it was the kick
of the heavy rifle or the excited BUMP
of that idiot Gobo. or both together. or
merely an unhappy coincidence. I do
not know, but the rotten beam broke
and went down. too. landing fiat nj
the foot of the tree upon a certain
humble portion of the human frame.
The shock was so severe that | frlt
as though all my teeth were flying
through the roof of my mouth. but nj
though I sat slightly stunned for few
seconds. luckily for me fell light, and
was not in any way injured.
Meanwhile the elephant began to-
scream with fear and fury. and ut
tracted by his cries, the other two
came charging up.
felt for my rife; it was not there.
Then remembered that had rested
It on fork of the bongh in order to
fire, and doubtless there it remained.
My position now was very unpleas
ant
| did not dare to try and climb the
tree again. which. shaken ms | was.
would have been task OF some diff
fculty. because the elephants would
certainly see me. and Gobo. who cluns
TO bough, was still aloft with the
other rife.
| could not run. because there was
no shelter near.
Under these circumstances | did the
only thing feasihle--clambered round
the trunk as softly as possible, ana
keeping one eye on the elephants. wins
pered to Gobo to bring down the rife,
and awaited the development of the
situation.
| knew that If the elephants did moi
see me, which, luckily, they We're toe
engaged to do, they would not smeF
me. for l was up wind.
Gobo. however. either did not. or,
preferring the safety Of the tree, would
not hear me.
He said the former. but believed
the latter. for knew that he was moi
enough of a sportsman to really enjoy
shooting elephants by moonlight IN the
open.
So there was behind my tree, dis
mayed, unarmed. but highly Interested
for was witnessing remarkable
performance.
When the other two bulls arrived. the
wounded elephant OH the ground
ceased to scream, but began to make
low moaning noise and gently touch
the wound near his shoulder. from
which the blood was literally spoutina
out
The other two seemed to understand
at any rate, they did this: Kncclins
down OIL either side, they got thrIi
trunks and tusks underneath him. ana
aided by his own efforts. with one
great lift got him OH his feet.
Then leaning against I'm OH eI,lir
side to support him. they marched OF
Mt walk in the direction of the vii
lage.
1t was a pitiful sight, and even then
It made me feel brute.
Present., from a walk. as the wouna'
ed elephant gathered himself together
little, they broke into a trot and
after that l could follow them no
longer with my eyes, for the second
black cloud came upon over the moon
and put her out rs All extinsuialler
puts out n dip.
say with my eyes, but my ears still
gave me a very fair notion of what was
going OH.
When the cloud came up the three
terrified animals were heading directly