Year: 1868

until Taber advised me to keep about the
same distance upon the left flank. My


Iokrooris kept apart from the scene as


they were not required. In front of the


elephant were the two agageers; one of
whom was the renowned Roder Sheriff
with the withered arm. All being ready


for action, Roder now advanced slowly


towards the head of the cunning old bull
as he was quietly awaiting an opportuni-
ty to make certain of some one who
might give him a good chance. Roder
Sheriff rode bay mare that having been
thoroughly trained to these encounters
was perfect at her work. Slowly and
coolly she advanced toward her wary an


tagonist, until within eight or nine yards


of the elephants head. The creature


never moved. The nuise en- scene was


beautiful, not a word was spoken and we


kept our places amidst utter silence,


which was at length broken by snort


from the mare, as she now stood gazing


intently at the elephant as though watch


ing for the moment of attack. One


more pace forward and Roder sat coolly


upon his mare, with his eyes fixed upon


those of the elephant. For an instant |


saw the white of the eye nearest to me.


"Look out, Roder, he's coming" / ex-


claimed. With a shrill scream the ele-


phant dashed upon him like an avelanch.


Round went the mare as if upon a


pivot and away over rocks and stones,


flying like a gazelle with the monkey


like form of little Roder Sheriff leaning


forward, and looking over his left shoul-


der as the elephant rushed after him.


For a moment | thought he must be


caught. Had the mare stumbled, all


were lost but she gained in the race


after few quick bounding strides, and


Roder, still looking behind him, kept his


distance so close to the elephant that its


outstretched trunk was within few feet


of the mares tail. Taber Sheriff and


his brother Ibrahim swept down like fall


cons in the rear. In full speed they dex-


terously avoided the trees until they ar


rived upon open ground, when they


dashed up close to the headquarters o.


the furious elephant which, maddene'
with excitement, needed nothing bat Re
f der and his mare now almost within it
grasp. When close to the tail Of the e
7 ephant, Taher Sherif's sword dashe
from its sheath, as grasping his trust
: blade he leaped nimbly to the grounc
: while Ibrahim caught the reins of h
1 horse Two or three bounds on foot wit
his sword clutched in both hands and h
was close behind the elephant. A brigh
: glance shone like lightning as the SUI
: struck upon the descending steel. Thi
was followed by duh crack, as tn
sword cut through the skin and sinew
and settled deep in the bone about twelv


inches above the foot AT the next strid
! the elephant halted dead short, in th,
I midst of its tremendous charge. Tahe
had jumped quickly on one side and hat
q vaulted into the stable with his nakeC
sword in hand at the same moment Ro
: der turned sharp round and again face'
= the elephant as before. STOPPING quick
ly from the saddle he picked up from tn
d ground handful of dirt which he thre,
: into the face of the vicious looking an
I NAL that ence more attempted to rus
Q upon him. 1t was impossible, the foe
S was dislocated and turned up III fror
5 like an old shoe. In an instant Tahe
T. was once more OH foot, and again til
r sharp sword slashed the remaining les
L The great bull elephant could not mov'
d the first cut with the sword utterly di
l. abled it; the second was its death-bloy
h The arteries of the leg were divided an
le the blood spouted in jets from the woun'
'f | wished to terminate its misery by
t. bullet behind the ear, but Taher Sher
le begged us not to fire, as the elephal
er would quickly bleed to death witho,
he pain, and an unnecessary shot might a
p tract the Basse who would steal the fcs
e- and ivory"