Evening star., 1908-01-25

l began to shout his name. Wesley.
Wesley. Wesley
In an instant every sound ceased as II
by magic. Even the innumerab!e in
sects were silent for a moment. But IN
this silence I heard the tread of heavy
feet approaching and the cracking OF
branches. accompanied by singular
rending noise, and presently l dlstin-
g1ished the deep breathing of some
mighty beast close to me. The howIs,
| cries and screams. the shrill, bsWliderinS
| chrp of the insects began again. but
above all the sounds l still distinguished
| the tramping of those heavy ,eat ana the
| low. deep breathing not more than a
yard or two away.
This was unbearable, and presently !
| remembered match box filled with
matches which l always carried. | man
aged TO light one of these matches. and
| as the tiny squirt of light f1ared up
| caught sight of pair of Tapping ears
| and the immense pinkish white forehead
| delight. In a moment she was walking
over the throns as though they were
feathers, and. without a word of COM
mand. lifted me gently up and placed me
on her neck.
| Ny clothes were in ribbons, my flesh
torn with numberless deep scratches
which / did not feel, for l knew now mat
with Janoos help l would find my
brother if he could be found.
Folded and strapped around the ele-
plants neck ! discovered a large blan-
ket: within the blanket was long,
strong rope. flask of wine and some
biscuits. Then l knew that Ala Chu-
mura had sent Janoo after me.
She tramped on steadily. sometimes
clearing a pathway for her body by up
| roofing the young trees in her, way or
tearing down the festoons OF strong
vines. | passed the strap which held the
blanket around Janoo's neck about my
own body as l lay face downward but
for this | should have been swept from
my seat by the low-hanging branches of
the trees.
1t must have been nearly morning when
Janoo stopped and uttered a whimpering
cry. 1t was with just such a cry that
she always greeted Wesley. l raised my
head and peered around. We had reached
a clearing in this painless forest. The
setting moon shone through the thin
ned branches. A white object lay directly
in our path. l had scarcely time TO see
that it was a man, when an enormous
elephant came laundering toward US. 1t
stamped and trumpeted, and ragged about
in an insane manner, then made straight
for the PROSTATE man. But Janoo put
herself between them. How she did 1t
do not know. but in a short time found
that she was urging the great mad thing
backward toward a dark space. between
the trees. She rubbed her forehead sooth-
ingly against his and butted him slowly
and gently backward
/ slipped the flask of wine into my
pocket. and sliding from Janoo's back |
left her to her own devices, while rushed
back to the man. Yes. 1t was my
brother Wesley. 1 raised his head and
put the wine to his lips. At first
/ thought he was dead. and my heart
almost stopped beating. but presently he
swallowed a mouthful of wine, then closed
his eyes.
Wesley" l cried: speak Tell me if
you are injured"
why, Roger. boy. how did you get
here?" he answered, struggling to a sit
ting position. Il never hoped to see you
again
/ gave him a hearty hug and he went
on Il was foolish enough to leave the
party a moment to do little hunting on
my own account. / could still hear their
voices quite plainly and was turning TO
rejoin them when / stumbled into deep
nit covered over with vines and matted
straw. an elephant trap | believe. l
must have been stunned by my fall, for
when / recovered the sun had set and l
was almost smothered by the falling
rubbish. I got out somehow. but found
that one of my legs was useless ana
since that / have been dodglng great
mad beast of an elephant that IS ioose
nv destruction. At last think l must
have tainted from fatigue.
/ put the wine to his lips again then
and said: II am alone Wesley put
and stamping of huge feet reached che us. ;:
"Alone,'' exclaimed Wesley. Then 1t
is ali up with US. for here comes the
creature straight for us. Run. Roger;
climb the largest tree you can ma. II
try to crawl behind something
did pOt move for L saw at once lHdt
the elephant coming toward US was Janoo.
In a moment she was kneei1ng py my
brother. and it was not long before nad
improyised a cushion out of the blanket
FOR his moor broken leg and we were both
seated on Janoo's great neck
AZ we moved along | Deered under the
trees for the other elephant, and presently
discovered him at the bottom OF a deep
nit. which had been prepared py the nun
IDENTIFY knew this when she drove her vic
tim into IL
II don't wonder the creature protested.
said wesley when / told him. I've been
there myself and it is really not pleasant
quarters.
At the outskirts of the forest we were
met by Wesley's two friends and num-
Der of natives Coming in search of US. All
were overjoyed at our safe return.
native Indian doctor set Wesley's
broken limb, but long before he could walk
Chumura had with the aid of Janoo and
several of his mahouts, brought in the
captured elephant from the jungle. The
old keeper declared it to be the finest crea-
ture he had seen for many a year. 1t was
now securely chained and we stood beside
it to watch it.
.Feel its soft skim exclaimed old
Chumura Observe the red of its mouth
and tongue. and. OH the full, broad fore
head the pink spots on it's wide trunk.
Every foot has its five nails, smooth, eias-
tic and round as a bit of bamboo. Sell
your elephant?' he asked abruptly.
why, it is not mine to SELL | answered
in surprise.
Chumura was silent for moment. Then
he said "Janoo is fine creature.
Indeed she is I replied land so af-
fectionate ! would rather own her than
any elephant ! ever saw.
"Ah then. let US make an exchange"