A STRANGE EXPERIENCE. 415 



the encounter with the wild boar, which in some respects was similar to the 

 Bushman's experience with one of the animals in South Africa. Dick's pony 

 showed a formidable disposition to regard more than one inanimate object as 

 another of the beasts in disguise, awaiting the chance to charge upon him again, 

 while his rider found he had been so severely shaken up that he was likely to feel 

 the effects for several days. 



Before reaching camp, Mr. Godkin had noticed the absence of Jack. Jim ex- 

 plained that he had set out to call on a friend living hardly a third of a mile dis- 

 tant. The migratory life of the Hindoos precludes all our ideas of home, and Jack 

 meant to stay with him for only a short time. He expected to procure some food, 

 and it was his intention to return before the set of sun. 



This course of the native would have been considered presumptuous by many, 

 since Jed had also gone on a short visit, but Mr. Godkin expressed no objection. 

 He was a kind master and allowed his servants great latitude in their actions. 

 He related the interesting sight he and Dick had witnessed by the pool. 



It would be supposed that Jim and Jo would have felt the most interest in the 

 incident in which they had just taken a slight part, but they seemed to think more 

 about the " rogue " elephant than anything else. Both had encountered the animals 

 and knew all about their ugly disposition, though, for that matter, the most tractable 

 of them have moods when they are extremely dangerous. 



" Glad he no see you," said Jim, speaking slowly, so as to make the best showing 

 with his English. 



" I don't know that it would have made any difference," replied Mr. Godkin, 

 unable to share the apprehension of his servant. " I have killed a good many 

 elephants, and would rather have a fight with half a dozen than encounter a tiger." 



" Hora bad he ugly he kill," added Jim, who must have had some reason of 

 his own for holding the animal in such dread. 



" That may all be, but a man can be ugly without being dangerous, and if we 

 meet the * rogue' I shall not hesitate to let him have the contents of my gun." 



How often, when inclined to boast, we are taught a lesson that should close our 

 lips forever to that manner of speaking I It is hardly just, however, to charge my 

 friend Carl Godkin with boasting, for I never knew a man freer from the objec- 

 tionable habit than he ; but he could not share the fear that his servant expressed 

 of the vagabond elephant, which possibly he treated with too much contempt. 



But it was less than an hour later, when the conversation was growing languid 

 and Dick Brownell was beginning to think his bruises were getting better, that a 

 fearful interruption of the conference took place. 



The absent Jack reappeared, but in what manner? 



Instead of coming across the plain, as he had walked away, he burst into sight 

 from the path in the jungle over which Mr. Godkin and Dick had passed a short 

 time before. 



He was on a dead run and in the extremity .of terror. Catching sight of his 

 friends, he screeched : " The goondah ' 1 goondah ' ! save me I " 



