“Jump!” cried Mr. Lewis in a wild voice. “It’s the only way to escape!”
Obeying the command at once, Bob and Joe watched their chance and leaped far over to the left of the train, while their fathers went to the right. The train was not traveling rapidly, and so there was no danger of injuring themselves.
The youths rolled over on the soft ground, not receiving as much as a scratch.
“Look, Joe! Look!” yelled Bob.
The locomotive slid on and with a tremendous crash struck the massive elephant. The impact knocked the front trucks of the engine completely off the track, while the huge beast went to the ground with a resounding thud.
The force of the collision literally brought the train to a complete stop. But the scene of the mishap was one of frenzied disorder.
Kicking and trumpeting horribly, the elephant vainly tried to get to its feet. But, despite its frantic efforts, it could not do so. Apparently it had been injured severely.
Mr. Holton ran around to the youths, followed by Joe’s father.
“Boys! Are you all right?” the latter asked anxiously.