“And with that he began to twirl his club once again and to parade back and forth as if to guard the whole width of the street.
“‘But, you see, Mr. Blue-Coat,’ began Gray Ears. And he finished the sentence in a whisper with his trunk against the other’s right ear.
“‘O—o—oh!’ exclaimed the policeman. ‘Oh—why, go right ahead. Oh, I’m sorry to have delayed you.’
“While he actually stood at salute as we once more moved on our way! Determining to ask my companion very soon what it was he had said to the watchman and to the one in buttons and blue, I held fast to the big fellow’s ears and, peering ahead, awaited a glimpse of the tents. Then, turning a corner, we came into a street and there—away at the foot of it—lay the goal that we sought, all flooded with lights of amber and gold.
“At sight of the tents Gray Ears came to a stop in the shelter of a well-shadowed wall and, placing his trunk round my waist, lifted me from his head to the ground.
“‘Here, Friend Dan, we find ourselves at our journey’s end. A minute more and we shall have entered the great tent and you claimed the reward of finding and returning Gray Ears, the Elephant. It is then that you will take your place among the clowns and I go back to my station. We have had our holiday together and a right merry one it has been. Who knows—perhaps we shall one day repeat it again. In the meantime do not be surprised if I cease speaking to you. For, unless I am away from the circus, I rarely talk to anyone. Indeed you might spend months upon months with the Very Biggest Circus and yet never hear one of its animals utter so much as a word.
“‘And now,’ he added, in that business-like tone which he assumed at times, ‘let us decide upon the manner in which we will enter the greatest tent. First of all we will arrange the placard that I found tacked to the tree and which I believe you have in the top of your hat. Here is a stick of charcoal which I picked up in the coal yard as we passed through the gates. On the side of the card that is blank you must write in a very bold hand:
“‘Excellent,’ approved Gray Ears. ‘This I will take charge of and display in proper fashion when we make our grand entrance. You, on your part, will stand on my back. Now then—up you go!’