My Friend the Elephant 109 



company can 't change its yards to please a circus. 

 The animals will have to measure ties, that 's all.' 



I realized at once that there were perils in that 

 yard, and, shall I confess it? felt an instinctive dread; 

 why, I cannot say, and have never since been able 

 to understand. 



I started down between the tracks in the only 

 direction by which the animals could come, thinking 

 I might meet them. I had gone perhaps two hun- 

 dred yards, when I saw in the distance, lighted dimly 

 by lanterns, the huge rolling forms of the on-coming 

 elephants. How grand they looked ! The indis- 

 tinct light seemed to magnify their forms. As they 

 approached I seemed to be looking up at the far out- 

 line of a chain of mountains. On they came, Jumbo 

 in the lead, and walking with that majestic swinging 

 stride which always characterized him. I can see 

 him now, the grand fellow. How magnificent he 

 was ! And then I saw that he was guiding the baby 

 elephant, and along a path which the little fellow 

 did not seem to understand, but which Jumbo ap- 

 peared to know thoroughly. 



I was so absorbed by the sight that I failed to 



