ANOTHER "CLOSE CALL.' 



4'9 



Instead of dashing him to death, as he had done with the wretched native, he 

 laid him down, with the intention of kneeling upon him, that being one of the ani- 

 mal's favorite methods of killing its victim. 



You need not be told that no living creature can withstand 

 the crush of so many tons. Many an elephant by such 

 means has mashed a squirming tiger to pulp. Dick 

 knew the purpose of the beast, 

 and maintained his presence of 

 mind. The moment the trunk 

 relaxed its grip, and he found 

 himself free, with the huge 

 beam-like knee slowly des- 

 cending upon him, he 

 rolled slightly to one 

 side, so that the knee 

 just missed him, com- 

 ing down upon the 

 earth instead. 



"> 



Then, with inim- 

 itable dexterity, he 

 leaped to his 

 feet, and, as 

 the disappoint- 

 ed elephant 

 groped for him 

 again with his 

 trunk, half 

 turning his 

 head to see 

 what had be- 

 come of him, 

 the boy dashed 

 between his 



"Bur IT WAS TOO LATK." 



hind legs. Even that amazing achievement would not have saved him but for th% 

 intervention of Mr. Godkin. 



The latter, as he caught up the rifle of the youth, was placed exactly in front of 

 the " rogue," and, as the beast inclined his head forward and downward to replace his 

 victim in position for crushing, he exposed the most vulnerable joint in his " armor." 



Not Gordon Gumming himself knew more accurately the location of the fatally 

 weak spot in the most gigantic creature that walks the earth, and no fairer target 

 could have been presented. 



/t was when the brute was turning his head to see what had become of the boy, 

 that Mr. Godkin pulled the trigger. That did the business. 



