"
"Emperor won't let you fall. When I give the word he'll wrap his
trunk around your legs. That will hold you steady from the waist
down. If you can keep the rest of yourself from lopping over
you'll be all right. It'll make a hit--see if it don't."
"I--I'll try it."
"Wait till I give the word, then get up on all fours, but don't
straighten up till you feel the trunk about you. We'll make a
showman of you before you know it."
"I seem to be the whole show as it is," grumbled Phil.
"You are, just now--you and Emperor. Good thing the other
performers are not in the ring, or they would all be jealous of
you."
"I wish Uncle Abner could see me now. Wouldn't he be mad!"
grinned Phil, as the memory of his crabbed relative came back to
him. "He'd come right out after me with his stick, he'd be so
angry. But I guess Emperor wouldn't let him touch me," decided
the boy proudly, with an affectionate pat to which the elephant
responded with a cough that sounded not unlike the explosion of a
dynamite cartridge.
"All ready now. Don't be afraid. Hold each position till I give
you the word to change it."
"Ready," announced the lad.
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