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

Sometimes when he fell asleep in the hay she would stand over him, quietly rocking her body and rumbling softly.
    A week had passed, and Bram figured it was time to make his move. Kelly has insisted that he remain hidden but he felt the captain might have compassion for him, and if not, there was no way the ship would return him to Germany. He gathered his things from the cabinet, raked the straw out of his hair with his fingers, and was saying goodbye to Mo when he felt a strong hand grip the back of his neck.

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    “W HAT IN THE HELL do you think you’re doing!” The voice was loud and angry.
    “I…was just going to see the captain,” Bram stammered under the powerful grip.
    “Oh, were you now? Well, maybe we’d better go and see him together.”
    Bram was held from behind so powerfully that he couldn’t even turn to see his captor. Modoc’s ears shot forward. A low vibrating moan could be heard.
    “It’s okay, Mo,” said Bram. “Not to worry, girl,” he coughed back as he was being guided out of the menagerie area and up to the top deck.
    Bram’s life in the dark hold hadn’t prepared him for the sudden blast of bright afternoon sunlight. His eyes burned in the dazzling glow, and he was forced to shut them, letting the hand shovehim stumbling in the right direction. He heard voices around him.
    “Who’s the kid?”
    “Where’d they find that?”
    “Peeuuwww! Hey, how about taking a bath?”
    The “hand” spearheaded Bram rudely upstairs, across planks, through narrow passageways, and up more stairs until he was finally pushed through an oval-shaped door. As his eyes became accustomed to the light, he found himself in what he later learned was the wheelhouse. Its handsome walls, ceiling, and floors were of hard oak and polished to a sheen that could only be outdone by the beauty of the shiny brass handrail, window frames, piles, and couplings. Most impressive of all was the great steering wheel. A sailor stood with his hands on the wheel, steadily watching the horizon.
    “What is your name?” came the authoritative voice of Captain Patel from the front of the cabin.
    Bram turned to see a man in a uniform whose jacket was adorned with bars of color. His dark skin accented his white turban. He had thick eyebrows and very intense brown eyes. He stood by the round porthole and had been peering out at the ocean through a pair of binoculars.
    “Bram, sir. Bram Gunterstein.”
    “What are you doing on my ship?”
    “You have my elephant, sir—that is, the circus does.”
    As he approached Bram, the binoculars dangled around the captain’s neck. “What do you mean, your elephant? Mr. North purchased all the animals in this circus.”
    “Yes, sir, that’s true but, well, you see my father died, and he told me to take care of Mo—that’s my elephant, only the circus people call her Jumbo…and they don’t like me calling her Modoc, but we can’t be separated…”
    “Wait a minute!” ordered the captain. “Now let’s get something straight here, young one. The animals, all the animals, belong to Mr. North. You are a stowaway, and I have the power to throw you overboard!”
    The captain had stepped within halitosis range and wasbecoming more enraged as he continued. “Now,” he bellowed, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, nor do I care. I will instruct the purser to hand you over to the local authorities at our first port of call. Until then, you will work in the galley for your room and board. Is that understood?”
    “But, sir, Mo…” Bram stammered.
    “Not another word out of you, boy!” snapped the captain. He turned to the man who was still holding Bram by the neck. “Get this person out of here and show him what life can be like for a stowaway!”
    “Aye-aye, sir. Come on, punk, move it.”
    For a moment the sailor released his hand. The blood rushing back into his neck made Bram feel faint, but immediately pressure was reapplied. Bram let out a yelp and was led