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Deadly Fight in the Jungle

(75) of them, the reeds towering far above was horrified to see in front of him the their heads, and the dust and fluff of the Elephant which had been knocked over grass seeds almost suffocating them. The now on its feet, and being driven stern position was certainly dangerous and dis- foremost in his direction by some unseen agreeable, still there was nothing for it but monster with whom it was engaged in to push on as fast as possible, which they deadly fight. did.

It was certainly a terrible position for Some five minutes more having passed Mr. Forrester, as it seemed almost imposwithout any untoward event, they were sible to avoid being crushed to death by hoping to escape from the jungle alto- the unwieldy animal, the reeds on each gether without seeing the face of a foe, side being as impenetrable as a wall, when suddenly, without the least warn- while it was backing with such force that ing, there was a shrill scream, a frightful it was within a few feet of touching him. rush, and the foremost Elephant was But the moment of extremest danger was knocked over sideways, sending his two the moment of deliverance, for at that riders and the mahout flying in the air. crisis a shot was fired from the rear, and The second Elephant no sooner heard the some huge creature fell with a great thud commotion in front of him, than he to the ground. The Elephant now changed turned and fled so suddenly that the its tactics; no longer continuing to retreat, native hunter and one of the civilians it attacked its fallen foe, trumpeting and were thrown off, the other sportsman screaming in the wildest manner. only saving himself by clinging to the A Rogue Elephant. mahout who had been able to keep his Mr. Forrester, still in extreme danger seat. This Elephant in its panic crashed from its proximity and its excitement, through the jungle grass for nearly a now called out to know who had fired the quarter of a mile before it could be shot, and where were all his companions. stopped, and even then neither persuasion He was answered by one of his friends, nor force could induce it to return. who entreated him to send forward the Startling Discovery. other mahout to secure the Elephant in Meanwhile, its rider, the only one of the order that they might escape from the four friends left, was in a pitiable state of jungle. Explanations soon followed, and suspense and even agony, as he had good it turned out that the wild animal which reason to fear that all his companions had so suddenly and savagely attacked were killed, the noise of a savage fight their party was an enormous rogue Elebetween two animals being distinctly phant, one separated from its herd, heard in the jungle behind them. In his always a very dangerous animal to meet anxiety to render help, Mr. Forrester with from its propensity to attack at once scrambled off the Elephant, and, rifle in any man or beast that may fall in its way. hand, attempted to retrace his steps to the The fight between it and the tame Elescene of warfare, but so dense was the phant (a fine tusker) had been very severe, cane brake that he could scarcely move so much so that had Mr. Scott not sucat all. Still he persevered, and with feet ceeded in shooting it behind the ear (the and hands bleeding, clothes torn, and only vulnerable spot) there can be no panting with heat and excitement, he had doubt that it would have fought on till it proceeded a little on his way when he had destroyed the whole party. As it was, the only one injured severely was the mals are remarkably intelligent, and can be mahout, who in falling from the Elephant taught to perform many kinds of labor. had broken his thigh. This poor man, The English have made use of their who had lain in agony during all this enormous strength in all the wars in unpleasant adventure, was made as com- India, and, more recently, in Africa, fortable as circumstances admitted of in where without them the troops would the howdah, and conveyed to camp, where have been helpless to move the artillery, he speedily recovered. This disagreeable even the lighter pieces, which these dumb experience in the jungle proved, however, allies carried bravely into action on their to be advantageous to the sportsman, as backs, while their courage under fire has BER