io8 My Friend the Elephant 



into the yard. The apparent confusion common to 

 all freight -yards was increased by the extra work 

 incident to the handling of the circus train. Switch 

 engines were running to and fro, clanging their bells 

 and whistling piercingly. The swinging lanterns of 

 the switchmen, the rattling of car-wheels over the 

 switches, the shouts of the men from out the semi- 

 darkness, all made a scene of wild confusion and 

 fascination. I was too well versed in such matters 

 to walk along the track, and so chose a space be- 

 tween two tracks, which was in places very narrow. 

 Upon reaching the train I learned that the elephants 

 had not yet arrived. One of the men, however, 

 informed me they would be there very shortly. 



1 To which entrance will they come ? ' I in- 

 quired. 



They '11 have to come down the tracks,' he 

 replied. ' These yards are shut in so, they can 't 

 get to the train in any other way.' 



' But is not that a dangerous thing to do ? ' I 

 asked. 



The man gave a shrug of indifference and said : 

 4 1 suppose so, but what are we to do ? The railroad 



