CHAPTER LXXV. 



ANOTHER "CLOSE CALL." 



URING his stay in India Dick Brownell was involved in many perilous 

 adventures, in most of which he was saved by his own intrepidity and 

 coolness ; but among all his thrilling experiences, I have no knowledge of 

 any in which he displayed such marvelous presence of mind as in his encounter 

 with the "rogue" elephant in the district of Oude. 



When barely two rods separated him from the furious brute that was charging 

 down upon him, Dick brought his rifle to his shoulder, aimed quickly at the fatal 

 spot in the front of the beast, and pulled trigger, only to have his weapon miss fire. 



It was useless to turn and flee, for he could not go twenty steps before being 

 seized, by the trunk that was already extended to grasp him. The cartridge which 

 he had placed in the breech of his gun was defective, and it must be removed and 

 another put in its place before there was any possibility of helping himself. 



The lad proceeded to do this with wonderful self-possession. The worthless 

 shell was withdrawn and another inserted. Then he hastily adjusted the breech, 

 and attempted to bring the gun to his shoulder. 



But it was too late. 



The outstretched trunk caught him about the waist just as he turned to dart 

 aside, and he was held immovable. 



Meanwhile Mr. Godkin had not been idle. Catching up his gun, he leveled it at 

 the furious brute, but unfortunately his position at that instant was such that he 

 could not select a fatal spot into which to drive the bullet, and there was not a 

 second to wait. As the best and only thing he could do, he aimed at the head and 

 pulled trigger. 



There was no miss, and the ball crashed its way into the huge skull, inflicting a 

 wound which, perhaps, was mortal, though not immediately so, and Dick must be 

 saved at once if at all. 



The smoke had not yet cleared from the muzzle, and the enormous beast gave 

 no evidence of being hurt, except by an irritated flirt of the head, when the horrified 

 Mr. Godkin saw the lad lifted in air, his arms and legs flying in the desperate effort 

 to release himself from the terrible grip of the "goondah." 



" Where is your gun ? " shouted his friend, running forward ; " quick ! and I'll 

 give him another shot ! " 



The words were yet in his mouth when Dick pointed to the weapon at the feet of 

 Mr. Godkin. Even in that awful moment the lad did not lose his wits. 



When the man stooped to pick it up the elephant lowered his trunk and placed 

 the youth on the ground in front of him. 



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