La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.
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THE STOLEN WHITE ELEPHANT
by Mark Twain
I.
The following curious history was related to me by a
chance railway acquaintance. He was a gentleman
more than seventy years of age, and his thoroughly
good and gentle face and earnest and sincere manner
imprinted the unmistakable stamp of truth upon every
statement which fell from his lips. He said:
You know in what reverence the royal white elephant
of Siam is held by the people of that country. You
know it is sacred to kings, only kings may possess it,
and that it is, indeed, in a measure even superior to
kings, since it receives not merely honor but worship.
Very well; five years ago, when the troubles
concerning the frontier line arose between Great
Britain and Siam, it was presently manifest that Siam
had been in the wrong. Therefore every reparation
was quickly made, and the British representative
stated that he was satisfied and the past should be
forgotten. This greatly relieved the King of Siam, and
partly as a token of gratitude, partly also, perhaps, to
wipe out any little remaining vestige of
unpleasantness which England might feel toward him,
he wished to send the Queen a present--the sole sure
way of propitiating an enemy, according to Oriental
ideas. This present ought not only to be a royal one,
but transcendently royal. Wherefore, what offering
could be so meet as that of a white elephant? My
position in the Indian civil service was such that I was
deemed peculiarly worthy of the honor of conveying
the present to her Majesty. A ship was fitted out for
me and my servants and the officers and attendants of
the elephant, and in due time I arrived in New York
harbor and placed my royal charge in admirable
quarters in Jersey City. It was necessary to remain
awhile in order to recruit the animal's health before
resuming the voyage.
All went well during a fortnight--then my calamities
began. The white elephant was stolen! I was called up
at dead of night and informed of this fearful
misfortune. For some moments I was beside myself
with terror and anxiety; I was helpless.
Then I grew calmer and collected my faculties. I soon
saw my course--for, indeed, there was but the one
course for an intelligent man to pursue. Late as it was,
EL ROBO DEL ELEFANTE BLANCO
MARK TWAIN
I
Una persona con la cual trab amistad
circunstancialmente en el tren, me cont la extraa
historia que relatar a continuacin. Quien la contaba era
un caballero de ms de setenta aos de edad y su rostro
bondadoso y amable y aire grave y sincero, ponan la
inconfundible marca de la verdad sobre cada
manifestacin que sala de sus labios. Dijo...
Usted sabe cmo reverencia el pueblo de ese pas al real
elefante blanco de Siam. Como sabr, est consagrado a
los reyes, slo los reyes pueden poseerlo y, de alguna
manera, hasta es superior a los reyes, ya que no slo es
objeto de honores, sino tambin de adoracin. Pues bien...
Hace cinco aos, cuando hubo tropiezos con
relacin a la lnea demarcatoria entre Gran Bretaa
y Siam, fue evidente que Siam haba cometido un
error. Por ello se dieron precipitadamente toda clase de
satisfacciones y el representante ingls declar que se
daba por conforme y que se deba olvidar el pasado. Esto
fue de gran alivio para el rey de Siam y en parte como
prueba de gratitud y en parte tambin, quiz, para
eliminar todo residuo de sentimiento desagradable en
Inglaterra, quiso hacerle a la reina un regalo, nica
manera segura de granjearse la buena voluntad de un
enemigo, segn las ideas orientales. Este regalo no slo
deba ser real, sino magnficamente real. Siendo as... qu
presente ms adecuado que un elefante blanco? Mi
situacin en la administracin pblica hind era tal que se
me consider especialmente digno del honor de entregarle
el obsequio a Su Majestad. Se equip un barco para m y
mi servidumbre y los oficiales y subalternos encargados
del elefante y llegu al puerto de Nueva York y aloj mi
regia carga en unos soberbios aposentos de Jersey. Era
imprescindible estar algn tiempo all para que la salud
del animal se restableciera antes de seguir de viaje.
Todo fue bien durante quince das; despus
empezaron mis tribulaciones. Robaron el elefante
blanco! Fui despertado en plena noche, para comunicarme
la horrorosa desgracia. Por algunos instantes, fui presa
del terror y la ansiedad; me sent impotente.
Despus me tranquilic y recobr mis facultades. Pronto
vi qu camino deba seguir; porque, a decir verdad, slo
haba un camino posible para un hombre inteligente. No
obstante lo tardo de la hora, corr a Nueva York y logr
que un agente de polica me guiara hasta la central de
detectives. Por fortuna llegu a tiempo, aunque el jefe, el
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
I flew to New York and got a policeman to conduct
me to the headquarters of the detective force.
Fortunately I arrived in time, though the chief of the
force, the celebrated Inspector Blunt was just on the
point of leaving for his home. He was a man of
middle size and compact frame, and when he was
thinking deeply he had a way of kniting his brows and
tapping his forehead reflectively with his finger,
which impressed you at once with the conviction that
you stood in the presence of a person of no common
order. The very sight of him gave me confidence and
made me hopeful. I stated my errand. It did not flurry
him in the least; it had no more visible effect upon his
iron self-possession than if I had told him somebody
had stolen my dog. He motioned me to a seat, and
said, calmly:
"Allow me to think a moment, please."
So saying, he sat down at his office table and leaned
his head upon his hand. Several clerks were at work at
the other end of the room; the scratching of their pens
was all the sound I heard during the next six or seven
minutes. Meantime the inspector sat there, buried in
thought. Finally he raised his head, and there was that
in the firm lines of his face which showed me that his
brain had done its work and his plan was made. Said
he--and his voice was low and impressive:
"This is no ordinary case. Every step must be warily
taken; each step must be made sure before the next is
ventured. And secrecy must be observed--secrecy
profound and absolute. Speak to no one about the
matter, not even the reporters. I will take care of them;
I will see that they get only what it may suit my ends
to let them know." He touched a bell; a youth
appeared. "Alaric, tell the reporters to remain for the
present." The boy retired. "Now let us proceed to
business--and systematically. Nothing can be
accomplished in this trade of mine without strict and
minute method."
He took a pen and some paper. "Now--name of the
elephant?"
"Hassan Ben Ali Ben Selim Abdallah Mohammed
Moist Alhammal Jamsetjejeebhoy Dhuleep Sultan
Ebu Bhudpoor."
"Very well. Given name?"
"Jumbo."
"Very well. Place of birth?"
"The capital city of Siam."
"Parents living?"
"No--dead."
"Had they any other issue besides this one?"
"None. He was an only child."
"Very well. These matters are sufficient under that
famoso inspector Blunt, se dispona ya a marcharse a su
casa. Blunt era una persona de estatura media y fsico
compacto y cuando estaba abismado en sus pensamientos,
tena una manera singular de enarcar el ceo y de
golpearse reflexivamente la frente con el dedo, que lo
convenca a uno en seguida de que estaba ante un ser
extraordinario. El solo verlo me infundi confianza y me
hizo alentar esperanzas. Expuse el motivo de mi visita.
Esto, no le caus la menor agitacin: su efecto aparente
sobre su frreo dominio de s mismo fue tan escaso como si
yo le hubiese dicho que me haban escamoteado mi perro.
Me invit a sentarme con un gesto, y dijo tranquilamente:
-Permtame que lo piense un poco, por favor.
Despus de pronunciar estas palabras, se sent
al escritorio y apoy la cabeza en la mano. En el
otro extremo de la habitacin, trabajaban varios
empleados; el rasgueo de sus plumas fue el nico ruido
que o durante los seis o siete minutos siguientes. Entre
tanto, el inspector segua sumido en sus pensamientos. Por
fin alz la cabeza y algo me revel, en las firmes lneas de
su rostro, que su mente haba realizado su tarea y que
tena decidido su plan. Y Blunt dijo... Y su voz era grave y
solemne:
-No es ste un caso ordinario. Todos los pasos deben ser
dados con precaucin; hay que asegurarse de cada paso
antes de dar el siguiente. Y debe conservarse el secreto; un
secreto hondo y absoluto. No le hable a nadie del asunto,
ni siquiera a los reporteros. Yo me har cargo de ellos;
cuidar de que sepan slo aquello que pueda convenirme
dejarles saber.
Blunt apret un timbre y apareci un joven.
-Alarico- dijo Blunt-, dgales a los periodistas que
aguarden un poco.
El joven se retir.
-Ahora, hablemos de negocios... y procedamos con mtodo.
En esta profesin ma nada puede hacerse sin un mtodo
rgido y minucioso.
El jefe de detectives tom papel y una lapicera.
-Cmo se llama el elefante?
-Hassan Ben Ali Ben Selim Abdallah Mohamed Mois
AIhammal Jamsetjeejebhoy Dhuiep Sultan Ebu Bhudpoor.
-Muy bien. El nombre de bautismo?
-Jumbo.
-Perfectamente. Dnde naci?
-La capital de Siam.
-Sus padres viven?
-No. Fallecieron.
-Tuvieron otros hijos adems de ste?
-No. Es hijo nico.
-Perfectamente. Esto basta por ahora. Tenga la
amabilidad de describirme al elefante y no deje de
mencionar un solo detalle, por desdeable que le
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
head. Now please describe the elephant, and leave out
no particular, however insignificant--that is,
insignificant from your point of view. To me in my
profession there are no insignificant particulars; they
do not exist."
I described he wrote. When I was done, he said:
"Now listen. If I have made any mistakes, correct
me."
He read as follows:
"Height, 19 feet; length from apex of forehead
insertion of tail, 26 feet; length of trunk, 16 feet;
length of tail, 6 feet; total length, including trunk, and
tail, 48 feet; length of tusks, 9 feet; ears keeping with
these dimensions; footprint resembles the mark left
when one up-ends a barrel in the snow; the color of
the elephant, a dull white; has a hole the size of a
plate in each ear for the insertion of jewelry and
possesses the habit in a remarkable degree of squirting
water upon spectators and of maltreating with his
trunk not only such persons as he is acquainted with,
but even entire strangers; limps slightly with his right
hind leg, and has a small scar in his left armpit caused
by a former boil; had on, when stolen, a castle
containing seats for fifteen persons, and a gold-cloth
saddle-blanket the size of an ordinary carpet."
There were no mistakes. The inspector touched the
bell, handed the description to Alaric, and said:
"Have fifty thousand copies of this printed at once and
mailed to every detective office and pawnbroker's
shop on the continent." Alaric retired. "There--so far,
so good. Next, I must have a photograph of the
property."
I gave him one. He examined it critically, and said:
"It must do, since we can do no better; but he has his
trunk curled up and tucked into his mouth. That is
unfortunate, and is calculated to mislead, for of course
he does not usually have it in that position." He
touched his bell.
"Alaric, have fifty thousand copies of this photograph
made the first thing in the morning, and mail them
with the descriptive circulars."
Alaric retired to execute his orders. The inspector
said:
"It will be necessary to offer a reward, of course. Now
as to the amount?"
"What sum would you suggest?"
"To begin with, I should say--well, twenty-five
thousand dollars. It
is an intricate and difficult business; there are a
thousand avenues of
escape and opportunities of concealment. These
thieves have friends and
parezca..., esto es, insignificante desde su punto de vista.
Para los hombres de mi profesin, no hay detalles
insignificantes: no existe tal cosa.
Hice la descripcin; l tom nota. Cuando hube terminado,
dijo:
-Ahora, esccheme. Si he cometido algn error corrjame.
Y ley lo siguiente:
-Estatura, seis metros, longitud, desde el pice de la frente
hasta la insercin de la cola, 8 metros; longitud del tronco,
cinco metros; longitud de la cola, dos metros; longitud
total, comprendidos el tronco y la cola, 15 metros, longitud
de los colmillos, 3 metros; orejas, en proporcin con esas
dimensiones; su pisada recuerda la marca que hace un
barril cuando se lo pone de punta en la nieve; color del
elefante, blanco opaco; en cada oreja tiene un agujero del
porte de un plato destinado a calzar joyas y tiene en alto
grado el hbito de mortificar con su trompa no slo a las
personas que conoce, sino tambin a perfectos
desconocidos; renguea ligeramente con la pata trasera
derecha y ostenta en la axila izquierda una pequea
cicatriz causada otrora por un fornculo. Al ser robado,
tena sobre su lomo un castillo con plazas para quince
personas y una manta de montar de pao de oro del
tamao de una alfombra corriente.
No haba error alguno. El inspector apret el timbre, y le
dio la descripcin a Alarico y dijo:
-Haga imprimir cincuenta mil ejemplares de estos datos y
que los enven por correo en seguida a las oficinas de
todos los detectives y de todos los prestamistas del
continente.
Alarico se fue.
-Bueno. Hasta aqu vamos bien. Ahora, quiero una
fotografa de la cosa robada.
Le di una. La examin con aire crtico y expres:
-Deber bastarnos, ya que no disponemos de otra cosa;
pero en esta foto el elefante tiene arrollada la trompa y se
la ha metido en la boca. ste es un detalle lamentable y
encaminado a confundir, ya que, naturalmente, no la tiene,
por lo general, en esa posicin.
Y toc el timbre.
-Alarico, haga imprimir cincuenta mil ejemplares de esta
fotografa a primera hora de la maana y despchelos por
correo con las circulares descriptivas.
Alarico se retir para cumplir con las rdenes.
El inspector dijo:
-Por descontado que ser necesario ofrecer una
recompensa. Cul ser la cantidad?
-Qu cantidad le parece bien?
-Para empezar, yo dira... pongamos, veinticinco mil
dlares. El asunto es complejo y difcil; hay mil caminos
de escape y posibilidades de ocultamiento. Esos ladrones
tienen amigos y cmplices en todas partes...
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
pals everywhere--"
"Bless me, do you know who they are?"
The wary face, practised in concealing the thoughts
and feelings within, gave me no token, nor yet the
replying words, so quietly uttered:
"Never mind about that. I may, and I may not. We
generally gather a pretty shrewd inkling of who our
man is by the manner of his work and the size of the
game he goes after. We are not dealing with a
pickpocket or a hall thief now, make up your mind to
that. This property was not 'lifted' by a novice. But, as
I was saying, considering the amount of travel which
will have to be done, and the diligence with which the
thieves will cover up their traces as they move along,
twenty-five thousand may be too small a sum to offer,
yet I think it worth while to start with that."
So we determined upon that figure as a beginning.
Then this man, whom nothing escaped which could
by any possibility be made to serve as a clue, said:
"There are cases in detective history to show that
criminals have been detected through peculiarities, in
their appetites. Now, what does this elephant eat, and
how much?"
"Well, as to what he eats--he will eat anything. He
will eat a man, he will eat a Bible--he will eat
anything between a man and a Bible."
"Good very good, indeed, but too general. Details are
necessary--details are the only valuable things in our
trade. Very well--as to men. At one meal--or, if you
prefer, during one day--how man men will he eat, if
fresh?"
"He would not care whether they were fresh or not; at
a single meal he would eat five ordinary men.
"Very good; five men; we will put that down. What
nationalities would he prefer?"
"He is indifferent about nationalities. He prefers
acquaintances, but is not prejudiced against
strangers."
"Very good. Now, as to Bibles. How many Bibles
would he eat at a meal?"
"He would eat an entire edition."
"It is hardly succinct enough. Do you mean the
ordinary octavo, or the family illustrated?"
"I think he would be indifferent to illustrations that is,
I think he would not value illustrations above simple
letterpress."
"No, you do not get my idea. I refer to bulk. The
ordinary octavo Bible weighs about two pound; and a
half, while the great quarto with the illustrations
weighs ten or twelve. How many Dore Bibles would
he eat at a meal?"
"If you knew this elephant, you could not ask. He
-Dios mo! Sabe usted quines son?
El astuto rostro, experto en el arte de disimular los
pensamientos y las emociones, no me permiti que
adivinara lo ms mnimo, ni tampoco me lo permitieron las
palabras de rplica, tan plcidamente pronunciadas...
-No le importe eso. Puede ser que s y puede ser que no.
Por regla general, nosotros barruntamos en forma
bastante aproximada quin es nuestro hombre por el tipo
de trabajo y la magnitud del juego en que se embarca.
Aqu, no tenemos que vrnoslas con un carterista ni con un
ratero de saln, vea bien. Este objeto no ha sido
escamoteado por un principiante. Pero, como le estaba
diciendo, si se toma en cuenta el cmulo de viajes que
debern hacerse y la diligencia con que los ladrones
eliminarn sus huellas a medida que avancen, veinticinco
mil dlares sern quiz una suma harto pequea, aunque
me parece que vale la pena comenzar con eso.
De manera que nos atuvimos a esta cifra, para empezar.
Luego, aquel hombre, a quien no se le pasaba detalle
alguno que pudiera servir como pista, dijo:
-En la historia detectivesca, hay casos elocuentes de que
los maleantes han sido atrapados merced a las
peculiaridades de su apetito. De modo que...
Veamos... Qu come ese elefante y cunto come?
-Bueno... En cuanto a qu come... es una bestia capaz de
comerlo todo. Comera a un hombre, comera una Biblia...,
comera cualquier cosa intermedia entre un hombre y una
Biblia.
-Muy bien... Muy bien, a decir verdad. Pero eso me suena
a demasiado general. Hace falta detalles..., los detalles son
lo nico valioso en nuestro oficio. En cuanto a los
hombres se refiere... Cuntos hombres es capaz de
comerse de una sentada... o, si as lo prefiere, en un da...
con tal que estn tiernos?
-A Jumbo no le importa que estn tiernos o no; en una sola
comida, podra consumir a cinco hombres, comunes.
-Perfectamente. Cinco hombres. Tomaremos nota de eso.
De qu nacionalidades los prefiere?
-Eso le da lo mismo. Prefiere a la gente conocida, pero no
tiene prejuicio alguno contra los extraos.
-Perfectamente. Ahora, en lo que atae a las Biblias...
Cuntas Biblias podra comerse de una sentada?
-Una edicin completa.
-Eso no me parece lo bastante explcito. Se refiere usted a
la edicin corriente en octavo o a la ilustrada para
familias?
-Creo que Jumbo no mostrara especial inters por las
ilustraciones: esto es, que no dara ms valor a las
ilustraciones que a la simple palabra impresa.
-No. Usted no me entiende. Me refiero al volumen.
La Biblia corriente en octavo pesa unas dos libras y meda,
mientras que la edicin grande en cuarto pesa diez o doce.
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
would take what they had."
"Well, put it in dollars and cents, then. We must get at
it somehow. The Dore costs a hundred dollars a copy,
Russia leather, beveled."
"He would require about fifty thousand dollars worth-
-say an edition of five hundred copies."
"Now that is more exact. I will put that down. Very
well; he likes men and Bibles; so far, so good. What
else will he eat? I want particulars."
"He will leave Bibles to eat bricks, he will leave
bricks to eat bottles, he will leave bottles to eat
clothing, he will leave clothing to eat cats, he will
leave cats to eat oysters, he will leave oysters to eat
ham, he will leave ham to eat sugar, he will leave
sugar to eat pie, he will leave pie to eat potatoes, he
will leave potatoes to eat bran; he will leave bran to
eat hay, he will leave hay to eat oats, he will leave
oats to eat rice, for he was mainly raised on it. There
is nothing whatever that he will not eat but European
butter, and he would eat that if he could taste it."
"Very good. General quantity at a meal--say about--"
"Well, anywhere from a quarter to half a ton."
"And he drinks--"
"Everything that is fluid. Milk, water, whisky,
molasses, castor oil, camphene, carbolic acid--it is no
use to go into particulars; whatever fluid occurs to
you set it down. He will drink anything that is fluid,
except European coffee."
"Very good. As to quantity?"
"Put it down five to fifteen barrels--his thirst varies;
his other appetites do not."
"These things are unusual. They ought to furnish quite
good clues toward tracing him."
He touched the bell.
"Alaric; summon Captain Burns."
Burns appeared. Inspector Blunt unfolded the whole
matter to him, detail by detail. Then he said in the
clear, decisive tones of a man whose plans are clearly
defined in his head and who is accustomed to
command:
"Captain Burns, detail Detectives Jones, Davis,
Halsey, Bates, and Hackett to shadow the elephant."
"Yes, sir."
"Detail Detectives Moses, Dakin, Murphy, Rogers,
Tupper, Higgins, and Bartholomew to shadow the
thieves."
"Yes, sir."
"Place a strong guard--A guard of thirty picked men,
with a relief of thirty--over the place from whence the
elephant was stolen, to keep strict watch there night
and day, and allow none to approach--except
reporters--without written authority from me."
Cuntas Biblias Dor se comera el elefante de una
sentada?
-Si usted conociera a ese elefante, no lo preguntara.
Comera las que hubiera.
-Expresmoslo, entonces, en forma de dlares y centavos.
Hay que averiguarlo de algn modo. El Dor vale cien
dlares el ejemplar, en cuero de Rusia, biselado.
El elefante necesitara unos cincuenta mil dlares...
digamos, una edicin de quinientos ejemplares.
-Eso, ya es ms exacto. Tomar nota. Muy bien.
Le gustan los hombres y las Biblias. Hasta aqu, todo va
bien. Qu ms podra comer el elefante? Necesito
detalles.
-Cambiara las Biblias por ladrillos, dejara los ladrillos
para comer botellas, las botellas para comer
ropa, dejara la ropa para comer gatos, dejara los gatos
para comer ostras, dejara las ostras para comer jamn,
dejara el jamn para comer azcar, dejara el azcar
para comer pastel, dejara el pastel para comer patatas,
dejara las patatas para comer salvado, dejara el salvado
para comer avena, dejara la avena para comer arroz, ya
que ha sido criado preferentemente a base de arroz. Slo
rechazara la manteca europea y aun quiz la comiera si la
probara.
-Perfectamente. La cantidad total ingerida en una
comida... digamos unos...
-Una cantidad que va de un cuarto de tonelada a media
tonelada.
-Y bebe...
-Todo lo fluido. Leche, agua, whisky, melaza, aceite de
castor, aceite de trementina, cido fnico, cualquier fluido,
salvo el caf europeo.
-Muy bien. Y en cuanto a la cantidad?
-Anote por favor, de cinco a quince barriles. Su sed vara;
sus dems apetitos, no.
-Esas cosas son inusuales. Deben servirnos como
excelentes pistas para dar con l.
Blunt oprimi el timbre.
-Alarico, llame al capitn Burns.
Vino Burns. El inspector Blunt le cont todo el asunto,
detalle por detalle. Luego, dijo con el tono claro y firme de
un hombre cuyos planes estn claramente definidos y que
est acostumbrado a dar rdenes:
-Capitn Burns, destaque a los detectives Jones, Davis,
Halsey, Bates y Hackett para que busquen al elefante.
-S, seor.
-Destaque a los detectives Mortes, Dakin, Murphy, Rogers,
Tupper, Higgins y Bartolomew para que vayan tras los
ladrones.
-S, seor.
-Ponga una fuerte custodia- una guardia de treinta
hombres escogidos, con un relevo de treinta-en el lugar
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
"Yes, sir."
"Place detectives in plain clothes in the railway;
steamship, and ferry depots, and upon all roadways
leading out of Jersey City, with orders to search all
suspicious persons."
"Yes, sir."
"Furnish all these men with photograph and
accompanying description of the elephant, and
instruct them to search all trains and outgoing
ferryboats and other vessels."
"Yes, sir."
"If the elephant should be found, let him be seized,
and the information forwarded to me by telegraph."
"Yes, sir."
"Let me be informed at once if any clues should be
found footprints of the animal, or anything of that
kind."
"Yes, sir."
"Get an order commanding the harbor police to patrol
the frontages vigilantly."
"Yes, sir."
"Despatch detectives in plain clothes over all the
railways, north as far as Canada, west as far as Ohio,
south as far as Washington."
"Yes, sir."
"Place experts in all the telegraph offices to listen in
to all messages; and let them require that all cipher
despatches be interpreted to them."
"Yes, sir."
"Let all these things be done with the utmost's
secrecy--mind, the most impenetrable secrecy."
"Yes, sir."
"Report to me promptly at the usual hour."
"Yes, Sir."
"Go!"
"Yes, sir."
He was gone.
Inspector Blunt was silent and thoughtful a moment,
while the fire in his eye cooled down and faded out.
Then he turned to me and said in a placid voice:
"I am not given to boasting, it is not my habit; but--we
shall find the elephant."
I shook him warmly by the hand and thanked him;
and I felt my thanks, too. The more I had seen of the
man the more I liked him and the more I admired him
and marveled over the mysterious wonders of his
profession. Then we parted for the night, and I went
home with a far happier heart than I had carried with
me to his office.
donde robaron el elefante, para que lo vigilen severamente
y no permitan acercarse a nadie- con excepcin de los
periodistas- sin rdenes escritas de mi parte.
-S, seor.
-Ponga a los detectives con ropa de civiles y en el
ferrocarril, en los barcos y en las estaciones de ferryboats
y en todas las carreteras que lleven afuera de Jersey, con
orden de registrar a todas las personas sospechosas.
-S, seor.
-D a todos esos hombres fotografas y la descripcin del
elefante y ordneles que registren todos los trenes y
ferryboats que partan y otros navos.
-S, seor.
-Si pueden encontrar al elefante, que se apoderen de l y
me lo comuniquen por telgrafo.
-Si, seor.
-Que me informen en seguida si se encuentra alguna pista,
pisadas del animal o algo similar.
-S, seor.
-Consiga una orden de que la polica de puertos vigile
atentamente la lnea costera.
-S, seor.
-Despache detectives vestidos de civil por todas las lneas
ferroviarias, al Norte hasta llegar al Canad, al Oeste
hacia Ohio, al Sur hasta Washington.
-S, seor.
-Coloque peritos en todas las oficinas telegrficas para
escuchar todos los mensajes y que exijan que se les aclaren
todos los despachos cifrados.
-S, seor.
-Que todas esas cosas se hagan con la mayor discrecin,
recurdelo. Con el ms impenetrable secreto.
-S, seor.
-Infrmeme con presteza a la hora de costumbre.
-S, seor.
-Vaya!
-S, seor.
Se fue.
El inspector Blunt qued en silencio y pensativo durante
unos instantes, mientras el fuego de sus ojos se enfriaba y
extingua. Despus, se volvi hacia m y dijo, con voz
plcida:
-No soy afecto a las jactancias, no acostumbro hacer tal
cosa; pero... hallaremos el elefante.
Le estrech la mano con entusiasmo y le di las gracias; y
eran muy sinceras. Cuanto ms vea a aquel hombre, ms
me agradaba y ms admiracin senta ante los misteriosos
prodigios de su profesin. Despus nos separamos al
llegar la noche y volv a casa sintindome mucho ms
alegre que al ir a su oficina.
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
II
Next morning it was all in the newspapers, in the
minutest detail. It even had additions--consisting of
Detective This, Detective That, and Detective The
Other's "Theory" as to how the robbery was done,
who the robbers were, and whither they had flown
with their booty. There were eleven of these theories,
and they covered all the possibilities; and this single
fact shows what independent thinkers detectives are.
No two theories were alike, or even much resembled
each other, save in one striking particular, and in that
one all the other eleven theories were absolutely
agreed. That was, that although the rear of my
building was torn out and the only door remained
locked, the elephant had not been removed through
the rent, but by some other (undiscovered) outlet. All
agreed that the robbers had made that rent only to
mislead the detectives. That never would have
occurred to me or to any other layman, perhaps, but it
had not deceived the detectives for a moment. Thus,
what I had supposed was the only thing that had no
mystery about it was in fact the very thing I had gone
furthest astray in. The eleven theories all named the
supposed robbers, but no two named the same
robbers; the total number of suspected persons was
thirty-seven. The various newspaper accounts all
closed with the most important opinion of all--that of
Chief Inspector Blunt. A portion of this statement
read as follows:
The chief knows who the two principals are,
namely, "Brick" Daffy and "Red" McFadden. Ten
days before the robbery was achieved he was already
aware that it was to be attempted, and had quietly
proceeded to shadow these two noted villains; but
unfortunately on the night in question their track was
lost, and before it could be found again the bird was
flown--that is, the elephant.
Daffy and McFadden are the boldest scoundrels in
the profession; the chief has reasons for believing that
they are the men who stole the stove out of the
detective headquarters on a bitter night last winter--in
consequence of which the chief and every detective
present were in the hands of the physicians before
morning, some with frozen feet, others with frozen
fingers, ears, and other members.
When I read the first half of that I was more
astonished than ever at the wonderful sagacity of this
strange man. He not only saw everything in the
present with a clear eye, but even the future could not
be hidden from him. I was soon at his office, and said
I could not help wishing he had had those men
arrested, and so prevented the trouble and loss; but his
II
A la maana siguiente todo apareci en los peridicos, con
los ms pequeos detalles. Hasta haba agregados,
consistentes en la teora del detective Fulano y el
detective Zutano y el detective Mengano acerca de la
forma cmo se haba efectuado el robo, sobre quines eran
los ladrones y adnde haban escapado con su botn.
Haba once de estas teoras y abarcaban todas
las posibilidades, Y este solo hecho prueba cuan
independientes son para pensar los detectives. No
haba dos teoras anlogas, ni siquiera parecidas, con
excepcin de un detalle sorprendente, en el cual
coincidan absolutamente las once teoras. Ese detalle
era que, aunque en la parte posterior de mi edificio
haba un boquete y la nica puerta segua
estando cerrada con llave, el elefante no haba sido
llevado por el boquete, sino por alguna otra abertura (no
descubierta). Todos concordaban en que los ladrones
haban hecho aquel boquete slo para despistar a los
detectives. Esto jams se me habra ocurrido a m o a
cualquier otro profano, quiz, pero no haba confundido a
los detectives ni por un momento. Por eso, lo que yo haba
supuesto el nico detalle falto de misterio, era en realidad
lo que ms me haba inducido a error. Las once teoras
indicaban a los presuntos ladrones, pero ni siquiera dos de
ellas nombraban a los mismos ladrones; el total de las
personas sospechosas era de treinta y siete. Todas las
crnicas de los distintos peridicos terminaban con la ms
importante de las opiniones, la del inspector en jefe Blunt.
Parte de estas declaraciones, deca lo siguiente:
El jefe sabe quines son los principales culpables, Duffy
El Simptico y El Rojo MacFadden. Diez das antes del
robo, el jefe saba ya que ste iba a ser intentado y haba
procedido cautelosamente a hacer seguir a los dos
destacados malhechores; pero, por desgracia, la noche en
cuestin se perdieron sus huellas y antes de que pudiesen
ser hallados de nuevo, el pjaro haba volado digamos,
ms bien, el elefante. Duffy y McFadden son los truhanes
ms audaces de la profesin; el jefe tiene razn al pensar
que fueron ellos quienes robaron la estufa de la central de
detectives una inclemente noche del invierno pasado, como
consecuencia de lo cual el jefe y todos los detectives
estuvieron antes de la maana siguiente en manos de los
mdicos, algunos con los pies helados, otros con los dedos,
las orejas u otros miembros helados.
Cuando acab de leer la primera mitad de este suelto, me
asombr ms que nunca la prodigiosa sagacidad de aquel
hombre extrao. Blunt no slo vea con claridad todo lo
presente, sino que ni siquiera poda serle ocultado el
futuro. No demor en ir a su oficina y le manifest que
senta un incontenible deseo de que hiciera arrestar a
aquellos hombres y nos ahorrara as inconvenientes y
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
reply was simple and unanswerable:
"It is not our province to prevent crime, but to punish
it. We cannot punish it until it is committed."
I remarked that the secrecy with which we had begun
had been marred by the newspapers; not only all our
facts but all our plans and purposes had been
revealed; even all the suspected persons had been
named; these would doubtless disguise themselves
now, or go into hiding.
"Let them. They will find that when I am ready for
them my hand will descend upon them, in their secret
places, as unerringly as the hand of fate. As to the
newspapers, we must keep in with them. Fame,
reputation, constant public mention--these are the
detective's bread and butter. He must publish his facts,
else he will be supposed to have none; he must
publish his theory, for nothing is so strange or striking
as a detective's theory, or brings him so much
wonderful respect; we must publish our plans, for
these the journals insist upon having, and we could
not deny them without offending. We must constantly
show the public what we are doing, or they will
believe we are doing nothing. It is much pleasanter to
have a newspaper say, 'Inspector Blunt's ingenious
and extraordinary theory is as follows,' than to have it
say some harsh thing, or, worse still, some sarcastic
one."
"I see the force of what you say. But I noticed that in
one part of your remarks in the papers this morning
you refused to reveal your opinion upon a certain
minor point."
"Yes, we always do that; it has a good effect. Besides,
I had not formed any opinion on that point, anyway."
I deposited a considerable sum of money with the
inspector, to meet current expenses, and sat down to
wait for news. We were expecting the telegrams to
begin to arrive at any moment now. Meantime I
reread the newspapers and also our descriptive
circular, and observed that our twenty-five thousand
dollars reward seemed to be offered only to
detectives. I said I thought it ought to be offered to
anybody who would catch the elephant. The inspector
said:
"It is the detectives who will find the elephant; hence
the reward will go to the right place. If other people
found the animal, it would only be by watching the
detectives and taking advantage of clues and
indications stolen from them, and that would entitle
the detectives to the reward, after all. The proper
office of a reward is to stimulate the men who deliver
up their time and their trained sagacities to this sort of
work, and not to confer benefits upon chance citizens
perplejidades; pero su rplica fue sencilla y concluyente.
-A nosotros no nos corresponde impedir el delito, sino
castigarlo. No podemos castigarlo antes que se cometa.
Le hice notar que el estricto secreto con que
empezramos haba sido estropeado por los peridicos
y que no slo se haban revelado todos nuestras planes y
propsitos, sino que hasta se haba publicado el nombre de
todas las personas sospechosas, stas, sin duda, se
disfrazaran ahora o se ocultaran.
-Djelas usted- me dijo Blunt-. Ya vern que, cuando yo
est listo, mi mano caer sobre ellas, en sus escondites,
infalible como la mano del destino. En cuanto a los
peridicos, tenemos que complacerlos. La fama, la
reputacin, la constante mencin pblica; todo esto es el
pan y la manteca del detective. ste debe publicar sus
hechos, de lo contrario se podra creer que no los tiene;
debe publicar su teora, ya que nada es ms extrao o
impresionante que la teora de un detective o le vale ms
asombrado respeto. Debemos publicar nuestros planes,
porque los peridicos quieren saberlos y no podemos
negarnos sin ofenderlos. Debemos mostrarle
constantemente al pblico qu estamos haciendo, o creer
que no hacemos nada. Es mucho ms agradable que un
diario diga: La ingeniosa y excepcional teora del
inspector Blunt es la siguiente, que verle escribir alguna
cosa spera, o, lo que es peor, algo sarcstico.
-Comprendo la fuerza de su argumentacin. Pero he
advertido que, en una parte de sus declaraciones
periodsticas de esta maana, usted se neg a revelar su
opinin sobre un punto de poca importancia.
-S. Siempre hacemos eso; causa buen efecto.
Adems, yo no me haba formado una opinin al respecto,
de todos modos.
Puse una gran suma de dinero en manos del inspector para
encarar los gastos corrientes y me sent a la espera de
noticias. Ahora, confibamos en que los telegramas
empezaran allegar de un momento a otro. En el intervalo,
rele los peridicos y tambin nuestra circular descriptiva
y not que la recompensa de veinticinco mil dlares
pareca ser ofrecida nada ms que a los detectives. Dije
que, en mi opinin, la recompensa deba ofrecerse a
quienquiera que encontrara al elefante. El inspector
manifest:
-Los detectives encontrarn al elefante, de modo que la
recompensa ir adonde debe ir. Si lo encuentran otras
personas, ser solamente observando a los detectives y
usando las pistas e indicaciones robadas a ellos y esto, al
fin de cuentas, autorizar a los detectives a quedarse con
la recompensa. La verdadera finalidad de la recompensa
es estimular a los hombres que consagran su tiempo y su
afinada sagacidad a ese tipo de trabajo y no otorgar
beneficios a los ciudadanos que por azar tropiecen con
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
who stumble upon a capture without having earned
the benefits by their own merits and labors."
This was reasonable enough, certainly. Now the
telegraphic machine in the corner began to click, and
the following despatch was the result:
FLOWER STATION, N. Y., 7.30
A.M.
Have got a clue. Found a succession of deep
tracks across a farm near here. Followed them two
miles east without result; think elephant went west.
Shall now shadow him in that direction.
DARLEY, Detective.
"Darley's one of the best men on the force," said the
inspector. "We shall hear from him again before
long."
Telegram No. 2 came:
BARKER'S, N. J., 7.40 A.M.
Just arrived. Glass factory broken open here
during night, and eight hundred bottles taken. Only
water in large quantity near here is five miles distant.
Shall strike for there. Elephant will be thirsty.
Bottles were empty.
DARLEY, Detective.
"That promises well, too," said the inspector.
"I told you the creature's appetites would not be bad
clues."
Telegram No. 3:
TAYLORVILLE, L. I. 8.15 A.M.
A haystack near here disappeared during night.
Probably eaten.
Have got a clue, and am off.
HUBBARD, Detective.
"How he does move around!" said the inspector "I
knew we had a difficult job on hand, but we shall
catch him yet."
FLOWER STATION, N. Y., 9 A.M.
Shadowed the tracks three miles westward. Large,
deep, and ragged. Have just met a farmer who says
they are not elephant-tracks. Says they are holes
where he dug up saplings for shade-trees when ground
was frozen last winter. Give me orders how to
proceed.
DARLEY, Detective.
"Aha! a confederate of the thieves! The thing, grows
warm," said the inspector.
He dictated the following telegram to Darley:
Arrest the man and force him to name his pals.
Continue to follow the tracks to the Pacific, if
necessary.
Chief BLUNT.
Next telegram:
CONEY POINT, PA., 8.45 A.M.
una presa, sin habrselos ganado con su propio mrito y
trabajo.
Esto, a decir verdad, era bastante razonable. En ese
momento, el telgrafo del rincn comenz a emitir
chasquidos y el resultado fue el siguiente despacho:
Estacin Flower, Nueva York- 7.30 a. m.
Encontr pista. A travs de granja prxima, vi sucesin
profundas huellas. Las segu tres kilmetros direccin Este
sin resultado. Creo elefante se ha dirigido Oeste. Ahora, lo
seguir en esa direccin.
DARLEY, detective.
-Darley es uno de los ms destacados hombres de las
fuerzas policiales- dijo el inspector-. Pronto volveremos a
tener noticias de l.
Lleg el telegrama N 2:
Barker's, Nueva Jersey. 7.40 a. m.
Acabo de llegar. Anoche fue violentada aqu fbrica de
vidrio y sustrajeron ochocientas botellas. La sola agua
existe cercanas est a ocho kilmetros distancia. Ir all.
El elefante debe estar sediento Las botellas estaban vacas.
BAKER, detective.
-Tambin esto promete- dijo el inspector-. Ya le dije que el
apetito de ese animal no sera mala pista.
El telegrama N 3:
Taylorville. Long Island. 8.15 a.m
Parva heno desapareci cerca aqu noche. Seguramente
comida.
Tengo pista y parto.
HUBBARD, detective.
- Cmo va de un lado al otro ese animal!- dijo el
inspector-. Yo saba que nos iba a dar trabajo, pero lo
atraparemos.
Estacin Flower. Nueva York. 9 a. m.
Segu huellas cinco kilmetros direccin Oeste. Son
grandes, hondas e irregulares. Acabo encontrar chacarero
que dice no son huellas elefante. Dice son agujeros que l
cav para rboles de sombra al helarse tierra invierno
pasado. Espero rdenes conducta a seguir.
DARLEY, detective.
-Aj! Un cmplice de los delincuentes! Estamos pisando
sobre caliente- exclam el inspector.
Le dict el siguiente telegrama a Darley:
Aprselo y oblguelo indicar cmplices. Siga huellas...
hasta Pacfico, s hace falta.
JEFE BLUNT
El telegrama siguiente:
CONEY POINT, Pensilvania. 8.45 a. m. Anoche,
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
Gas office broken open here during night and three
month; unpaid gas bills taken. Have got a clue and
am away.
MURPHY, Detective.
"Heavens!" said the inspector; "would he eat gas
bills?"
"Through ignorance--yes; but they cannot support life.
At least, unassisted."
Now came this exciting telegram:
IRONVILLE, N. Y., 9.30 A.M.
Just arrived. This village in consternation.
Elephant passed through here at five this morning.
Some say he went east some say west, some north,
some south--but all say they did not wait to notice,
particularly. He killed a horse; have secure a piece of
it for a clue. Killed it with his trunk; from style of
blow, think he struck it left-handed. From position in
which horse lies, think elephant traveled northward
along line Berkley Railway. Has four and a half
hours' start, but I move on his track at once.
HAWES, Detective
I uttered exclamations of joy. The inspector was as
self-contained as a graven image. He calmly touched
his bell.
"Alaric, send Captain Burns here."
Burns appeared.
"How many men are ready for instant orders?"
"Ninety-six, sir."
"Send them north at once. Let them concentrate along
the line of the Berkley road north of Ironville."
"Yes, sir."
"Let them conduct their movements with the utmost
secrecy. As fast as others are at liberty, hold them for
orders."
"Yes, sir."
"Go!"
"Yes, sir."
Presently came another telegram:
SAGE CORNERS, N. Y., 10.30.
Just arrived. Elephant passed through here at 8.15.
All escaped from the town but a policeman.
Apparently elephant did not strike at policeman, but at
the lamp-post. Got both. I have secured a portion of
the policeman as clue.
STUMM, Detective.
"So the elephant has turned westward," said the
inspector. "However, he will not escape, for my men
are scattered all over that region."
The next telegram said:
GLOVER'S, 11.15
Just arrived. Village deserted, except sick and aged.
Elephant passed through three-quarters of an hour
atracadas oficinas compaa gas y robados tres meses
facturas impagas. Hay pista y me pongo campana.
MURPHY, detective.
-Santo Dios!- exclam el inspector-. Sera capaz el
elefante de comerse facturas de gas. Por ignorancia, s;
pero esos papeles no permiten mantener la vida. Al menos,
por s solos.
Luego, lleg este conmovedor telegrama:
Ironville, Nueva York 9.30 a. m.
Acabo de llegar. Pueblo estupefacto. Elefante pas por
aqu cinco de la maana. Algunos dicen que fue al Este,
otros, al Oeste, otros, al Norte y otros, al Sur; pero todos
aseguran no haber esperado para fijarse bien. Mat
caballo; consegu trozo caballo como pista. Lo mat con
trompa; dado estilo golpe, creo que golpe hacia
izquierda. Dada posicin que est caballo, creo elefante se
encamin Norte a lo largo lnea ferrocarril Berkley. Lleva
cuatro horas y media ventaja, pero encontrar su pista en
seguida.
HAWES, detective.
Di gritos de alegra. El inspector permaneci impasible,
como una imagen tallada. Con serenidad apret su timbre.
-Alarico enveme al capitn Burns.
Vino Burns.
-Cuntos hombres estn listos para rdenes inmediatas?
-Noventa y seis, seor.
-Mndelos al Norte sin demora que se concentren a lo
largo de la lnea de la carretera de Berkley al norte de
Ironville.
-S, seor.
-Que efecten sus movimientos con la mxima reserva.
Apenas estn en libertad los dems, tngalos disponibles.
-S, seor.
-Vaya!
-S, seor.
A poco, lleg otro telegrama:
Sage Corners, Nueva York 10.30
Acabo de llegar. Elefante pas por aqu 8. 15 horas.
Todos escaparon pueblo menos un polica Parece elefante
no golpe polica sino farol. Alcanz ambos. Tengo trozo
polica como pista.
STUMM, detective.
-De modo que el elefante ha ido hacia el Oeste-dijo el
inspector-. Con todo no podr huir, porque mis hombres
estn diseminados par toda esa zona.
El telegrama siguiente deca:
Glover's, 11.15
Acabo de llegar. Pueblo desierto, excepto enfermos y
ancianos. Elefante pas hace tres cuarto hora. Sesionaba
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
ago. The anti-temperance mass-meeting was in
session; he put his trunk in at a window and washed it
out with water from cistern. Some swallowed it--since
dead; several drowned. Detectives Cross and
O'Shaughnessy were passing through town, but going
south--so missed elephant. Whole region for many
miles around in terror--people flying from their
homes. Wherever they turn they meet elephant, and
many are killed. BRANT, Detective.
I could have shed tears, this havoc so distressed me.
But the inspector only said:
"You see--we are closing in on him. He feels our
presence; he has turned eastward again."
Yet further troublous news was in store for us. The
telegraph brought this:
HOGANSPORT, 12.19.
Just arrived. Elephant passed through half an hour
ago, creating wildest fright and excitement. Elephant
raged around streets; two plumbers going by, killed
one--other escaped. Regret general.
O'FLAHERTY, Detective.
"Now he is right in the midst of my men," said the
inspector. "Nothing can save him."
A succession of telegrams came from detectives who
were scattered through New Jersey and Pennsylvania,
and who were following clues consisting of ravaged
barns, factories, and Sunday-school libraries, with
high hopes-hopes amounting to certainties, indeed.
The inspector said:
"I wish I could communicate with them and order
them north, but that is impossible. A detective only
visits a telegraph office to send his report; then he is
off again, and you don't know where to put your hand
on him."
Now came this despatch:
BRIDGEPORT, CT., 12.15.
Barnum offers rate of $4,000 a year for exclusive
privilege of using elephant as traveling advertising
medium from now till detectives find him. Wants to
paste circus-posters on him. Desires immediate
answer.
BOGGS, Detective.
"That is perfectly absurd!" I exclaimed.
"Of course it is," said the inspector. "Evidently Mr.
Barnum, who thinks he is so sharp, does not know
me--but I know him."
Then he dictated this answer to the despatch:
Mr. Barnum's offer declined. Make it $7,000 or
nothing.
Chief BLUNT.
"There. We shall not have to wait long for an answer.
Mr. Barnum is
junta antitemplanza; meti trompa ventana y les ech agua
aljibe. Algunos la tragaron y murieron; hay varios
ahogados. Detectives Cross y O'Shaughnessy atravesaban
ciudad, pero iban Sur; de manera que no vieron elefante.
Toda zona varios kilmetros redonda terror; gente
abandonan sus casas. Adondequiera se vuelven,
encuentran elefante; muchos muertos.
BRANT, detective.
Aquellos estragos me apenaban a tal punto, que sent
deseos de llorar. Pero el inspector se limit a decir:
-Ya lo ve... Le estamos pisando los talones. Intuye nuestra
presencia; ha vuelto de nuevo hacia el
Este,
Con todo, nos esperaban ms noticias intranquilizadoras.
El telgrafo trajo esto...
Hoganport, 12.19
Acabo de llegar. Elefante pas hace media hora, causando
salvaje pnico y excitacin. Se lanz enfurecido calles; de
dos plomeros que pasaban, mat a uno; el otro escap.
Pesadumbre general,
O'FLAHERTY, detective.
-Ahora, el animal est exactamente en medio de mis
hombres- dijo el inspector-. Nada puede salvarlo.
Luego sobrevino una serie de telegramas de
detectives desparramados por Nueva Jersey y Pensilvania
y que iban detrs de pistas consistentes en
graneros, fbricas y bibliotecas de escuelas dominicales
destruidos, con grandes esperanzas... esperanzas que, en
realidad, valan tanto como certezas. El inspector dijo:
-Me gustara comunicarme con ellos y ordenarles que
fueran hacia el Norte, pero es imposible. Un detective slo
va a la oficina telegrfica para enviar un informe; despus,
vuelve a salir y uno no sabe cmo echarle mano.
Luego, lleg este despacho:
Bridgeport, Connecticut. 12.15
Barnum ofrece cantidad fija cuatro mil dlares anuales
por derechos exclusivos usar elefante medio publicidad
viajero desde ahora hasta que detectives lo arresten.
Quiere pegar affiches circo en l. Pide respuesta
inmediata.
BIGGS, detective.
- Es completamente absurdo!- exclam.
-Por supuesto- dijo el inspector-. Evidentemente el seor
Barnum, que se cree tan astuto, no sabe quien soy, pero yo
s s quin es el.
Oferta seor Barnum rechazada. Siete mil dlares o nada.
EL JEFE BLUNT.
-Ya est. No necesitaremos aguardar mucho tiempo una
respuesta. EI seor Barnum no est en casa: est en la
oficina del telgrafo, de acuerdo con su costumbre cuando
trata negocios urgentes. Dentro de tres...
Aceptado.- P. T. BARNUM.
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
not at home; he is in the telegraph office--it is his way
when he has
business on hand. Inside of three--"
Done.--P. T. BARNUM.
So interrupted the clicking telegraphic instrument.
Before I could make a comment upon this
extraordinary episode, the following despatch carried
my thoughts into another and very distressing
channel:
BOLIVIA, N. Y., 12.50.
Elephant arrived here from the south and passed
through toward the forest at 11.50, dispersing a
funeral on the way, and diminishing the mourners by
two. Citizens fired some small cannon-balls into him,
and they fled. Detective Burke and I arrived ten
minutes later, from the north, but mistook some
excavations for footprints, and so lost a good deal of
time; but at last we struck the right trail and followed
it to the woods. We then got down on our hands and
knees and continued to keep a sharp eye on the track,
and so shadowed it into the brush. Burke was in
advance. Unfortunately the animal had stopped to
rest; therefore, Burke having his head down, intent
upon the track, butted up against the elephant's hind
legs before he was aware of his vicinity. Burke
instantly arose to his feet, seized the tail, and
exclaimed joyfully, "I claim the re--" but got no
further, for a single blow of the huge trunk laid the
brave fellow's fragments low in death. I fled
rearward, and the elephant turned and shadowed me
to the edge of the wood, making tremendous speed,
and I should inevitably have been lost, but that the
remains of the funeral providentially intervened again
and diverted his attention. I have just learned that
nothing of that funeral is now left; but this is no loss,
for there is abundance of material for another.
Meantime, the elephant has disappeared again.
MULROONEY, Detective.
We heard no news except from the diligent and
confident detectives scattered about New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia--who were all
following fresh and encouraging clues--until shortly
after 2 P.M., when this telegram came:
BAXTER CENTER, 2.15.
Elephant been here, plastered over with circus-
bills, any broke up a revival, striking down and
damaging many who were on the point of entering
upon a better life. Citizens penned him up and
established a guard. When Detective Brown and I
arrived, some time after, we entered inclosure and
proceeded to identify elephant by photograph and
description. All masks tallied exactly except one,
Tal fue la interrupcin de los tictacs telegrficos. Antes
que yo pudiera comentar este inslito episodio, el siguiente
despacho llev mis pensamientos por otro muy angustioso
cauce...
Bolivia, Nueva York. 12.50
El elefante lleg aqu del Sur y pas hacia bosque
11,50, desbaratando cortejo fnebre por camino y
restndole a dos plaideros. Pobladores dispararon contra
l varias pequeas balas can luego huyeron. El detective
Burke y yo llegamos diez minutos despus, desde Norte,
pero confundimos unas excavaciones con pisadas y
perdimos por eso mucho tiempo; finalmente encontramos
buena pista y la seguimos hasta bosques. Luego, apoyamos
en tierra manos y rodillas y continuarnos vigilando
atentamente huella y as la seguimos al internarse maleza.
Burke se haba adelantado. Desgraciadamente, animal se
detuvo descansar; de modo que Burke, la cabeza inclinada,
atento a huella, choc con patas traseras elefante antes
advertir su proximidad. Burke se puso de pie
inmediatamente, aferr cola y grit con jbilo Reclamo
la... pero no dijo ms, ya que un solo golpe enorme
trompa redujo valiente detective a fragmentos. Hu hacia
atrs y elefante se volvi y me sigui hacia borde bosque,
enorme velocidad y yo habra estado perdido sin poderlo
remediar, de no haber intervenido nuevamente restos
cortejo fnebre, que atrajeron su atencin pero esto no es
gran prdida, ya que sobra material para otro. Mientras
tanto, elefante vuelto desaparecer.
MULROONEY, detective.
No recibimos ms noticias que las enviadas por los
diligentes y confiados detectives diseminados por Nueva
Jersey, Pensilvania, Delaware y Virginia-que seguan
nuevas y estimulantes pistas- hasta que, poco despus de
las 2 de la tarde, lleg este telegrama...
Baxter Centre 2.15
El elefante estuvo aqu, cubierto cartelones circo y disolvi
reunin religiosa, derribando y daando a muchos que se
disponan a pasar mejor vida. Los pobladores lo cercaron
y establecieron guardia. Cuando llegamos Brown yo,
penetramos cerco y procedimos identificar elefante por
fotografa y seas. Todas coincidan excepto una, que no
pudimos ver: cicatriz fornculo bajo axila. Por cierto que
Brown se arrastr debajo de l para mirar y elefante le
aplast crneo..., mejor dicho, le aplast y destruy la
cabeza, aunque nada sali del interior. Todos escaparon;
lo mismo elefante, golpeando a diestra y siniestra con gran
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
which we could not see--the boil-scar under armpit.
To make sure, Brown crept under to look, and was
immediately brained--that is, head crushed and
destroyed, though nothing issued from debris. All
fled so did elephant, striking right and left with much
effect. He escaped, but left bold blood-track from
cannon-wounds. Rediscovery certain. He broke
southward, through a dense forest.
BRENT, Detective.
That was the last telegram. At nightfall a fog shut
down which was so dense that objects but three feet
away could not be discerned. This lasted all night.
The ferry-boats and even the omnibuses had to stop
running.
III
Next morning the papers were as full of detective
theories as before; they had all our tragic facts in
detail also, and a great many more which they had
received from their telegraphic correspondents.
Column after column was occupied, a third of its way
down, with glaring head-lines, which it made my
heart sick to read. Their general tone was like this:
THE WHITE ELEPHANT AT LARGE! HE
MOVES UPON HIS FATAL MARCH WHOLE
VILLAGES DESERTED BY THEIR FRIGHT-
STRICKEN OCCUPANTS! PALE TERROR
GOES BEFORE HIM, DEATH AND
DEVASTATION FOLLOW AFTER! AFTER
THESE,
THE DETECTIVES! BARNS DESTROYED,
FACTORIES GUTTED, HARVESTS
DEVOURED, PUBLIC ASSEMBLAGES
DISPERSED, ACCOMPANIED BY SCENES OF
CARNAGE IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE!
THEORIES OF THIRTY-FOUR OF THE MOST
DISTINGUISHED DETECTIVES ON THE
FORCES! THEORY OF CHIEF BLUNT!
"There!" said Inspector Blunt, almost betrayed into
excitement, "this is magnificent! This is the greatest
windfall that any detective organization ever had. The
fame of it will travel to the ends of the earth, and
endure to the end of time, and my name with it."
But there was no joy for me. I felt as if I had
committed all those red crimes, and that the elephant
was only my irresponsible agent. And how the list had
grown! In one place he had "interfered with an
election and killed five repeaters." He had followed
this act with the destruction of two pool fellows,
named O'Donohue and McFlannigan, who had "found
a refuge in the home of the oppressed of all lands only
the day before, and were in the act of exercising for
efecto. Animal escap, pero dej grandes rastros sangre a
causa heridas causadas por balas can. El
redescubrimiento seguro. Se dirigi al Sur, a travs denso
bosque.
BRENT, detective.
ste fue el ltimo telegrama Al llegar la noche descendi
una niebla tan espesa, que no podan verse las cosas que
estaban a un metro de distancia. Esto dur toda la noche.
Los ferryboats y hasta los autobuses tuvieron que dejar de
circular.
III
Al otro da, los peridicos estaban llenos de teoras
detectivescas como antes, Tambin aparecieron con lujo de
detalles todos nuestros trgicos acontecimientos y muchas
cosas ms que los peridicos recibieron de sus
corresponsales por telgrafo. Dedicaban al hecho
columnas y ms columnas, con destacados titulares, a tal
punto, que me causaba angustia leer aquello. Su tono
general era el siguiente:
El elefante blanco en libertad! Arremete en su marcha
fatal.! Pueblos enteros abandonados por sus pobladores,
posedos por el pnico! El plido terror lo precede, la
muerte y la devastacin lo signen! Lo persiguen los
detectives! Graneros destruidos, fbricas desventradas,
cosechas devoradas, reuniones pblicas dispersadas,
acompaadas por escenas de carnicera imposible de
describir! Las teoras de los treinta y cuatro detectives de
la polica! La teora del jefe Blunt!
- Eso es!- grit el inspector, traicionando casi su
excitacin-Esto es formidable! Es la ganga ms grande
que haya tenido nunca una institucin detectivesca. Su
fama llegar hasta los confines de la tierra y perdurar
hasta el fin de los tiempos, y mi nombre con l.
Pero para m no haba alegra. Me pareca que
haba sido yo quien haba cometido todos aquellos
sangrientos crmenes y que el elefante slo era mi
irresponsable agente. Y cmo haba aumentado la
lista! En cierto sitio el elefante se haba entrometido
en una eleccin y matado a cinco electores que votaran
por partida triple. A esto haba seguido la
muerte de dos inocentes seores llamados O'Donohue
y McFlannigan, que acababan de hallar cobijo
en el pas de los oprimidos del mundo entero el
da anterior, y se disponan a ejercitar el noble derecho
de los ciudadanos norteamericanos en las urnas,
momento en que fueron desintegrados por la despiadada
mano del Azote de Siam. En otro lugar el
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
the first time the noble right of American citizens at
the polls, when stricken down by the relentless hand
of the Scourge of Siam." In another, he had "found a
crazy sensation-preacher preparing his next season's
heroic attacks on the dance, the theater, and other
things which can't strike back, and had stepped on
him." And in still another place he had "killed a
lightning-rod agent." And so the list went on, growing
redder and redder, and more and more heartbreaking.
Sixty persons had been killed, and two hundred and
forty wounded. All the accounts bore just testimony to
the activity and devotion of the detectives, and all
closed with the remark that "three hundred thousand
citizen; and four detectives saw the dread creature,
and two of the latter he destroyed."
I dreaded to hear the telegraphic instrument begin to
click again. By and by the messages began to pour in,
but I was happily disappointed in they nature. It was
soon apparent that all trace of the elephant was lost.
The fog had enabled him to search out a good hiding-
place unobserved. Telegrams from the most absurdly
distant points reported that a dim vast mass had been
glimpsed there through the fog at such and such an
hour, and was "undoubtedly the elephant." This dim
vast mass had been glimpsed in New Haven, in New
Jersey, in Pennsylvania, in interior New York, in
Brooklyn, and even in the city of New York itself!
But in all cases the dim vast mass had vanished
quickly and left no trace. Every detective of the large
force scattered over this huge extent of country sent
his hourly report, and each and every one of them had
a clue, and was shadowing something, and was hot
upon the heels of it.
But the day passed without other result.
The next day the same.
The next just the same.
The newspaper reports began to grow monotonous
with facts that amounted to nothing, clues which led
to nothing, and theories which had nearly exhausted
the elements which surprise and delight and dazzle.
By advice of the inspector I doubled the reward.
Four more dull days followed. Then came a bitter
blow to the poor, hard-working detectives--the
journalists declined to print their theories, and coldly
said, "Give us a rest."
Two weeks after the elephant's disappearance I raised
the reward to seventy-five thousand dollars by the
inspector's advice. It was a great sum, but I felt that I
would rather sacrifice my whole private fortune than
lose my credit with my government. Now that the
detectives were in adversity, the newspapers turned
upon them, and began to fling the most stinging
elefante haba dado con un extravagante predicador
sensacionalista que preparaba sus heroicos ataques de la
temporada por venir contra el baile, el teatro y otras cosas
que no podan devolver el golpe, y lo haba aplastado. Y en
un tercer lugar haba matado a un corredor de
pararrayos. Y as aumentaba la lista, cada vez ms roja y
cada vez ms desalentadora. Ya eran sesenta los muertos
y doscientos cuarenta los heridos. Todos los informes
testimoniaban la actividad y devocin de los detectives y
terminaban con la observacin de que trescientos mil
ciudadanos y cuatro detectives vieron al horrible animal y
ste aniquil a dos de estos ltimos.
Yo tema or nuevamente, el martillear del telgrafo. Poco
a poco, empezaron a llegar torrencialmente los mensajes,
pero su carcter me caus una agradable decepcin.
Pronto fue evidente que se haba perdido toda pista del
elefante. La niebla le haba permitido buscar un buen
escondite sin ser visto. Telegramas recibidos de los puntos
ms ridculamente lejanos, daban cuenta de que se haba
vislumbrado una vaga y enorme mole a travs de la niebla
a tal y cual hora, y que se trataba indudablemente del
elefante. La vaga mole haba sido entrevista en New
Haven, New Jersey, Pensilvania, en el interior del estado
de Nueva York, en Brooklyn...
y hasta en la propia ciudad de Nueva York! Pero,
en todos los casos, la enorme y vaga mole haba
desaparecido velozmente y sin dejar huellas. Todos los
detectives del gran contingente policial disperso sobre
aquella vasta extensin del pas, despachaban informes
hora tras hora y cada uno de ellos tena una pista y segua
a algo y le estaba pisando los talones.
Pero el da transcurri sin ms novedades.
Al da siguiente, lo mismo.
Al otro da, lo mismo.
Las informaciones periodsticas comenzaron a resultar
montonas, con sus hechos que nada decan, con sus pistas
que a nada conducan, y con sus teoras que haban
agotado casi los elementos que asombran y deleitan y
deslumbran.
Por consejo del inspector, dupliqu la recompensa
ofrecida.
Transcurrieron otros cuatro das sombros. Despus, los
pobres y diligentes detectives sufrieron un duro golpe; los
periodistas se negaron a publicar sus teoras, y dijeron con
indiferencia:
-Denos un descanso.
Dos semanas despus de la desaparicin del elefante,
obediente al consejo del inspector, aument la
recompensa a 75.000 dlares. La cantidad era grande,
pero decid sacrificar mi fortuna personal antes que perder
mi reputacin ante el gobierno. Ahora que la adversidad se
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
sarcasms at them. This gave the minstrels an idea, and ensaaba con los detectives, los peridicos se volvieron
they dressed themselves as detectives and hunted the contra ellos y se dedicaron a herirlos con los ms
elephant on the stage in the most extravagant way. punzantes sarcasmos. Esto les sugeri una idea a los
cantores cmicos del teatro, que se disfrazaron de
The caricaturists made pictures of detectives scanning detectives y dieron caza al elefante a travs del escenario,
the country with spy-glasses, while the elephant, at en la forma ms extravagante. Los caricaturistas
their backs, stole apples out of their pockets. And they dibujaron a los detectives registrando el pas con
made all sorts of ridiculous pictures of the detective prismticos, mientras el elefante desde atrs de ellos, les
badge--you have seen that badge printed in gold on robaba manzanas de los bolsillos. Y bosquejaron toda
the back of detective novels, no doubt it is a wide- clase de ridculos dibujos de la medalla detectivesca; sin
staring eye, with the legend, "WE NEVER SLEEP." duda, ustedes habrn visto estampada en oro esa medalla
When detectives called for a drink, the would-be en la contratapa de las novelas policiales. Se trata de un
facetious barkeeper resurrected an obsolete form of ojo desmesuradamente abierto, con la leyenda: Nosotros
expression and said, nunca dormimos. Cuando los detectives pedan una copa,
"Will you have an eye-opener?" All the air was thick el tabernero, con nfulas de chistoso, resucitaba una vieja
with sarcasms. forma de expresin y deca:
But there was one man who moved calm, untouched, Quiere usted un trago de esos que hace abrir los ojos?.
unaffected, through it all. It was that heart of oak, the La atmsfera estaba cargada de sarcasmos.
chief inspector. His brave eye never drooped, his Pero haba un hombre que se mova con calma,
serene confidence never wavered. sin darse por afectado ni rozado por las pullas. Era
He always said: aquel ser de corazn de roble que se llamaba el inspector
Blunt. Su valiente ojo nunca ceda en su vigilancia, su
"Let them rail on; he laughs best who laughs last." serena confianza jams flaqueaba. Siempre deca:

My admiration for the man grew into a species of -Que sigan con sus burlas; el que re ltimo, re mejor.
worship. I was at his side always. His office had
become an unpleasant place to me, and now became Mi admiracin por aquel hombre se convirti en algo
daily more and more so. Yet if he could endure it I similar a la adoracin. Yo estaba siempre a su lado. Su
meant to do so also--at least, as long as I could. So Ioficina se haba convertido para m en un sitio
came regularly, and stayed--the only outsider who desagradable, y esta sensacin aumentaba cada da. Con
seemed to be capable of it. Everybody wondered how todo, si l poda soportarlo, yo me propona hacer lo
I could; and often it seemed to me that I must desert, mismo; al menos, mientras fuera posible. De manera que
but at such times I looked into that calm and iba con regularidad y me quedaba; era el nico extrao
apparently unconscious face, and held my ground. que pareca con fuerzas para hacerlo. Todos se
asombraban de que yo pudiese hacerlo, y con frecuencia,
About three weeks after the elephant's disappearance I me pareca que deba marcharme, pero en esas
was about to say, one morning, that I should have to oportunidades observaba aquel rostro sereno y
strike my colors and retire, when the great detective aparentemente inconsciente, y me mantena firme.
arrested the thought by proposing one more superb Unas tres semanas despus de la desaparicin del elefante,
and masterly move. a punto de manifestar que me vea obligado a arriar mi
bandera y retirarme, el gran detective contrarrest este
This was to compromise with the robbers. The pensamiento proponiendo una jugada ms soberbia y
fertility of this man's invention exceeded anything I magistral.
have ever seen, and I have had a wide intercourse sta consista en pactar con los ladrones. La
with the world's finest minds. He said he was inagotable inventiva de aquel hombre superaba todo
confident he could compromise for one hundred lo que yo viera, a pesar de mis abundantes cambios
thousand dollars and recover the elephant. I said I de ideas con los cerebros ms vigorosos del mundo. Blunt
believed I could scrape the amount together, but what dijo que transara en 100.000 dlares y recuperara al
would become of the poor detectives who had worked elefante. Yo dije que esperaba reunir esa cantidad, pero,
so faithfully? He said: qu sera de los pobres detectives que haban trabajado
tan sacrificadamente?... Blunt dijo:
"In compromises they always get half." -En las transacciones, les toca siempre la mitad.
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
This removed my only objection. So the inspector
wrote two notes, in this form:
DEAR MADAM,--Your husband can make a large
sum of money (and be entirely protected from the
law) by making an immediate, appointment with me.
Chief BLUNT.
He sent one of these by his confidential messenger to
the "reputed wife" of Brick Duffy, and the other to the
reputed wife of Red McFadden.
Within the hour these offensive answers came:
YE OWLD FOOL: brick Duffys bin ded 2 yere.
BRIDGET MAHONEY.
CHIEF BAT,--Red McFadden is hung and in
heving 18 month. Any Ass but a detective know that.
MARY O'HOOLIGAN.
"I had long suspected these facts," said the inspector;
"this testimony proves the unerring accuracy of my
instinct."
The moment one resource failed him he was ready
with another. He immediately wrote an advertisement
for the morning papers, and I kept a copy of it:
A.--xWhlv. 242 ht. Tjnd--fz328wmlg. Ozpo,--2
m! 2m!. M! ogw.
He said that if the thief was alive this would bring him
to the usual rendezvous. He further explained that the
usual rendezvous was a glare where all business
affairs between detectives and criminals were
conducted. This meeting would take place at twelve
the next night.
We could do nothing till then, and I lost no time in
getting out of the office, and was grateful indeed for
the privilege.
At eleven the next night I brought one hundred
thousand dollars in bank-notes and put them into the
chief's hands, and shortly afterward he took his leave,
with the brave old undimmed confidence in his eye.
An almost intolerable hour dragged to a close; then I
heard his welcome tread, and rose gasping and
tottered to meet him. How his fine eyes flamed with
triumph! He said:
"We've compromised! The jokers will sing a different
tune to-morrow!
Follow me!"
He took a lighted candle and strode down into the vast
vaulted basement where sixty detectives always slept,
and where a score were now playing cards to while
the time. I followed close after him. He walked
swiftly down to the dim and remote end of the place,
and just as I succumbed to the pangs of suffocation
and was swooning away he stumbled and fell over the
outlying members of a mighty object, and I heard him
exclaim as he went down:
Esto contrarrest mi nica objecin. De modo que el
inspector escribi dos misivas con este contenido:
Estimada seora: Su marido puede obtener una gran
cantidad de dinero (y verse totalmente protegido por la
ley) concertando una entrevista inmediata conmigo.
EL JEFE BLUNT.
Envi una de estas cartas con su emisario confidencial a la
presunta esposa del simptico Duffy y la otra a la
presunta esposa del Rojo McFadden.
Al cabo de una hora, llegaron estas ofensivas respuestas.
Viejo estpido: El simptico Duffy muri hace dos aos
BRGIDA MAHONEY.
Jefe Blunt: El Rojo McFadden fue ahorcado hace 18
meses. Todos los burros, menos los detectives, lo saben.
MARY O'HOOLIGAN.
-Yo sospechaba esto desde hace tiempo- manifest el
inspector-. Este testimonio prueba la infalible precisin de
mi instinto.
Apenas fracasaba uno de sus recursos, tena otro pronto.
Escribi rpidamente un aviso para los matutinos y
conserv un ejemplar:
A- xwblv. 242. N. Tjnd- fz 328 wmlg. Ozpo,- 2 m!
ugw. Mum.
Dijo que si el ladrn estaba vivo, esto lo llevara a la
entrevista corriente. Explic, adems, que la entrevista
corriente era un lugar donde se resolvan todos los asuntos
entre los detectives y los delincuentes. La entrevista
tendra lugar a las doce de la noche siguiente.
Nada podamos hacer hasta ese momento y yo me apresur
a irme de la oficina y me sent realmente agradecido por
ese privilegio.
La noche siguiente, a las once, llev los 100.000 dlares en
billetes y se los entregu al jefe, y poco despus ste se
despidi, con su firme confianza de antao inconmovible
en los ojos. Pas una hora casi interminable; luego o su
grato andar y me levant con una exclamacin
entrecortada y tambalendome. Qu llama de victoria
arda en sus ojos! Y dijo:
-Hemos transado! Los bromistas cantarn maana una
cancin muy distinta! Sgame!
Tom una vela encendida y baj al vasto stano
abovedado, donde dorman siempre sesenta detectives, y
donde un numeroso grupo estaba en esos momentos
jugando a los naipes para matar el tiempo. Lo segu de
cerca. Me dirig rpidamente al oscuro y lejano extremo
del aposento y en el preciso instante cuando sucumba a
una sensacin de asfixia y poco me faltaba para
desvanecerme, Blunt tropez y cay sobre los estirados
miembros de un voluminoso objeto, y le o exclamar,
inclinndose:
-Nuestra noble profesin queda rehabilitada.
Aqu est su elefante!
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
"Our noble profession is vindicated. Here is your
elephant!"
I was carried to the office above and restored with
carbolic acid. The whole detective force swarmed in,
and such another season of triumphant rejoicing
ensued as I had never witnessed before. The reporters
were called, baskets of champagne were opened,
toasts were drunk, the handshakings and
congratulations were continuous and enthusiastic.
Naturally the chief was the hero of the hour, and his
happiness was so complete and had been so patiently
and worthily and bravely won that it made me happy
to see it, though I stood there a homeless beggar, my
priceless charge dead, and my position in my
country's service lost to me through what would
always seem my fatally careless execution of a great
trust. Many an eloquent eye testified its deep
admiration for the chief, and many a detective's voice
murmured, "Look at him--just the king of the
profession; only give him a clue, it's all he wants, and
there ain't anything hid that he can't find." The
dividing of the fifty thousand dollars made great
pleasure; when it was finished the chief made a little
speech while he put his share in his pocket, in which
he said, "Enjoy it, boys, for you've earned it; and,
more than that, you've earned for the detective
profession undying fame."
A telegram arrived, which read:
MONROE, MICH., 10 P.M.
First time I've struck a telegraph office in over three
weeks. Have followed those footprints, horseback,
through the woods, a thousand miles to here, and they
get stronger and bigger and fresher every day. Don't
worry-inside of another week I'll have the elephant.
This is dead sure. DARLEY,
Detective.
The chief ordered three cheers for "Darley, one of the
finest minds on the force," and then commanded that
he be telegraphed to come home and receive his share
of the reward.
So ended that marvelous episode of the stolen
elephant. The newspapers were pleasant with praises
once more, the next day, with one contemptible
exception. This sheet said, "Great is the detective! He
may be a little slow in finding a little thing like a
mislaid elephant he may hunt him all day and sleep
with his rotting carcass all night for three weeks, but
he will find him at last if he can get the man who
mislaid him to show him the place!"
Poor Hassan was lost to me forever. The cannonshots
had wounded him fatally, he had crept to that
Me trasladaron a la oficina de la planta baja y me hicieron
recobrar el sentido con cido fnico.
Luego, penetr all como un enjambre todo el cuerpo
de detectives y hubo otro desborde de triunfante jbilo,
como yo no haba visto nunca. Llamaron a los reporteros,
se abrieron cajas de champaa, se pronunciaron brindis,
los apretones de manos y las felicitaciones fueron
continuos y entusiastas. Naturalmente, el jefe era el hroe
del da, y su felicidad era tan grande y haba sido ganada
de una manera tan paciente y noble y valerosa, que me
sent feliz al verla, aunque yo era ahora un pordiosero sin
hogar, con mi inestimable carga muerta, y mi situacin en
la administracin pblica de mi pas se haba perdido para
siempre, dado lo que parecera por siempre una ejecucin
funestamente negligente, de una importante misin.
Muchos elocuentes ojos dieron muestras de su profunda
admiracin por el jefe y muchas detectivescas voces
murmuraron: Mrenlo: es el rey de la profesin. Basta
con darle un rastro y no necesita ms. No hay cosa
escondida que l no pueda encontrar. La distribucin de
tos 50.000 dlares proporcion gran placer: cuando hubo
terminado, el jefe pronunci un discursito mientras se
meta en el bolsillo su parte, y dijo en el transcurso del
mismo:
-Disfruten ese dinero, muchachos, porque se lo han
ganado. Y algo ms: han ganado inmarcesible fama para
la profesin detectivesca.
Lleg un telegrama, cuyo contenido era el siguiente:
Monroe, Michigan; 10 p. m.
Por primera vez encuentro oficina telgrafos en ms de
tres semanas. Segu huellas, a caballo, a travs bosques, a
mil seiscientos kilmetros de aqu y son ms fuertes y
grandes y frescas cada da. No se preocupe; una semana
ms y tendr elefante. Esto es segursimo.
DARLEY, detective.
El jefe orden que se dieran tres vtores por Darley, uno
de los principales cerebros del cuerpo de detectives, y
dispuso luego que se le telegrafiara, para que regresase y
recibiera su parte de la recompensa.
As concluy el maravilloso episodio del elefante
robado. Los peridicos prodigaron de nuevo
sus elogios al da siguiente, con una sola y despreciable
excepcin. La del que manifest: Qu cosa
grande es el detective! Podr ser un poco lento para
encontrar una pequeez tal como un elefante extraviado,
podr darle caza durante todo y dormir con
su putrefacto esqueleto durante tres semanas, pero lo
encontrar por fin..., si puede conseguir que el hombre
que lo indujo a error le indique el lugar!.
Yo haba perdido al pobre Hassan para siempre.
Las balas de can le haban causado heridas fatales. Se
 La Mansin del Ingls - http://www.mansioningles.com
unfriendly place in the fog, and there, surrounded by
his enemies and in constant danger of detection, he
had wasted away with hunger and suffering till death
gave him peace.
The compromise cost me one hundred thousand
dollars; my detective expenses were forty-two
thousand dollars more; I never applied for a place
again under my government; I am a ruined man and a
wanderer on the earth but my admiration for that man,
whom I believe to be the greatest detective the world
has ever produced, remains undimmed to this day, and
will so remain unto the end.
haba arrastrado hacia aquel lugar hostil, situado en
medio de la niebla; y all, rodeado por sus enemigos y en
constante peligro de ser encontrado, haba perecido de
hambre y sufrido, hasta que con la muerte le lleg la paz.
La transaccin me cost 100.000 dlares, mis gastos de
investigacin 42.000. Jams volv a pedir un cargo
pblico, estoy arruinado y me he convertido en un
vagabundo, pero mi admiracin por ese hombre, a quien
considero el detective ms grande que el mundo haya
producido, se mantiene viva hasta hoy y seguir as hasta
el fin de mis das.