other masters, was now coming toward the gap with a small opera-glass in
his hand.

"Here, Joseph," he cried breathlessly, "am I right? Are those two of my
pupils?"

"Yes, sir; a-riding striddling on the elephant's neck."

"Dangerous! Madness! So undignified too! What will people think? Run
and tell them to get off directly and come to me."

The man hurriedly retraced his steps; but before he could reach the gap
in the hedge the elephant strode through and out into the road, and the
Doctor and his aides hurried back into the house to reach one of the
front windows just as, headed by the proprietor and followed by a crowd,
the elephant strode by, the two boys taking off their caps to salute
those at the window.

The Doctor turned with a look of blank amazement upon his countenance,
to stare for a few moments at the classical and French masters, who had
followed him in.

"Gentlemen," he exclaimed angrily, "did you ever see such extraordinary
behaviour in your lives? Oh, this must be stopped!"

But it was not stopped, for the elephant was striding away along the
main street of the town, with a crowd regathering as they saw that the
powerful monster seemed to be well under control; while the boys, now
thoroughly enjoying their exciting ride, needed no persuasion from
Ramball to keep their places and take their mount right up to the
show-field, where several of the yellow vans were already in place,
their drivers having commenced the formation of the oblong square which
was to form the show.

Here, shortly afterwards, the elephant stopped of its own volition close
to a great iron picket which was being driven into the soft earth, and
by which a truss of hay had been placed ready for its refection.

Here, as the elephant stood still, it paid no heed to a couple of
Ramball's men, who in obedience to their master's orders set to work to
fasten a strong chain to the monster's leg and attach it to the iron
picket.

For, evidently satisfied with its fruity lunch, and calmed down from the
excitement brought on by the accident, possibly too from a certain
feeling of satisfaction at hearing the native tongue of some old mahout
ringing in its great ears, the huge beast now began to take matters
according to its old routine. It commenced by gathering up portions of
the hay, which it loosened with its trunk, sniffing at it audibly, and
then beginning to scatter it about, the boys making no attempt to quit
their loft