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Updated: June 29, 2025
"Hit me, if you like, but I won't give in!" he seemed to say. Five blows he took from the other elephant's tusks without flinching. But at the sixth blow he stumbled forward, and fell to the ground. The elephant master stepped into the ring. "Arise!" he commanded. But Mukna would not rise. Then the elephant master made a sign to the two bulls.
And for the whole year Mukna was on his best behavior; he was gentle and docile and obedient, and he did whatever he was ordered to do, even the hardest work. And he did that willingly, as if to prove that he had truly repented. Then those very princes whom he had tried to kill felt sure that Mukna had begun a new life, and would always be good in the future.
He saw at once that he could not overtake Mukna, if he merely chased him. So, how could he stop Mukna from murdering the six men? I shall tell you. This is what that bull elephant did. As soon as the men had started running, he saw in what direction they were going. So he turned slightly, and ran also in that direction. As Mukna gained upon the men, he too came nearer and nearer to the men.
Mukna's blow fell upon the bull elephant's side, and knocked him down. But Mukna tripped over him, and also fell. The two elephants rolled over and over upon the ground. Meanwhile the young American and the reigning prince and all the other men, ran on to safety behind the trees. When Mukna regained his feet, he realized that the men he had attempted to kill had escaped.
But for the third time Mukna refused to obey. "Then you shall hear about this!" the keeper said, just as if he were talking to a disobedient workman. The keeper did not say anything more. But two of the nearest bull elephants stepped up to Mukna, one on each side of him just like a couple of policemen arresting a criminal.
Among these elephants was one called Mukna. Mukna was a bad-tempered elephant. His tusks never grew more than half-size. Bull elephants whose tusks do not grow to their full size are sometimes bad-tempered; they seem to have a grudge against everybody. Such elephants are always treated with special kindness, as if to make up to them for their loss.
Mukna had come within three yards of the young American and the reigning prince, who were running together. "Now I have got them!" Mukna must have thought. One more stride, and he would trample them to death! But that instant the other bull elephant also ran close up to the two men and hurled himself between Mukna and the two men.
So the princes took him back into favor. And today Mukna wears a cloth-of-gold, with gold rings on his tusks, and he walks in a royal procession. Sometimes he carries grand people on his back, and sometimes children. And no elephant is more gentle and thoughtful with little children than he is.
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