Ralph Helfer by Modoc: The True Story of the Greatest Elephant That Ever Lived Page A

Indian. “The others are quiet enough.”
    “Well, I ain’t one that likes surprises,” replied Jake. “No sense in Mr. North gettin’ damaged goods, ya know.”
    Bram’s heart moved from his throat back to his chest as they headed out into the passageway.
    As the days passed, Bram settled into organizing his existence. He found a metal cabinet of fair size located behind the elephants where the trainers kept their equipment. Underneath the drawers was a broken bin built into the frame of the legs. Its door was jammed, and only by pulling hard could he open it. Brushing out the cobwebs, he put his stuff inside, jammed the door back into its original position, and sprinkled some dust over it. He felt sure no one would attempt to use it.
    Bram had worried about obtaining food, but was pleased to settle for sharing Modoc’s. Every morning and evening the elephants were fed a diet of alfalfa and oat hay mix; five pounds of grain; a treat of bananas, apples, oranges, and bread; plus whateverelse the kitchen had as leftovers. Bram picked through it before Mo and her friends could devour it all. There was a hose for fresh water handy at all times.
    The scary moments came when the keepers arrived to clean up. They would wheel a large bin ahead of them, shoveling the dung and hay into it. Once they finished, they spread fresh straw for bedding. Bram had to keep ahead of the keepers at all times. When they were working at one end he would stay low at the other. As they progressed down the line, he kept moving ahead of them. At the end of the row when they weren’t watching, he made a quick jump behind the bin. As they pushed it out, he would slip away into the dark, taking advantage of the shadows, and later work his way back.
    When Kelly brought food or clothing to make his stay more comfortable, they would sit and talk of many things. Kelly told him that the ship they were on was an East Indian vessel, owned by British authorities, and was commissioned to travel the route between Europe and the eastern coast of the United States. He verified most of the things that Bram had been told about their route.
    “This is by no means the shortest way,” Kelly continued, “but it was all Mr. North could find that would get us home before the seasonal storms hit and make the oceans too dangerous.”
    They talked of the United States and how, if Bram made it, he could survive. Bram was surprised to find out that things were not as easy as he had thought, but there was no turning back. He’d take it a day at a time and keep a positive, optimistic outlook.
    Bram introduced Kelly to Modoc and the other elephants. Kelly was a little unsure of being next to animals that big, but once he got to know them, he liked their gentleness and kindness.
    “I can see you and Modoc are best of friends,” he said to Bram one day as he watched the care Bram took in cleaning Mo.
    “We were born at the same time, at the same place. We’ve always been with each other. I couldn’t imagine not being able to be with her. We’re connected, my father always told me, and we are.”
    “Well, I’d hate to see anything happen to separate you two. Becareful, Bram. I’ll come back when I can. See ya. Bye, Modoc.”
    The dark quarters and gentle rolling of the ship had a soothing effect. It gave Bram an opportunity to hear sounds and see things about the elephants that he was never fully aware of before, the grinding of food between those massive molars, the gurgling noises in their stomachs, the swishing of tails against their buttocks, the rasping of their legs rubbing together, the squeaking and rumbling sounds when they spoke to one another. Amid the intimacy of their elephant lifestyle, Bram felt that somewhere in the course of time he had been an elephant. His instincts and thoughts were the same as Mo’s; their fears, needs, and concerns were all shared.
    Modoc treated Bram as her son. She was always hugging, kissing, and sharing her food with him.