Tum Tum, the Jolly Elephant | Page 7

others prisoners, did not understand this talk, but they could see that Tum Tum was very strong, and might break loose.
"Better put a couple more chains on that fellow," said one of the hunters to another.
"I guess so," agreed the second hunter. "That is the finest and biggest elephant we have caught in this herd."
At first Tum Tum thought they must be speaking of Mr. Boom, who surely was the largest and strongest elephant in the jungle. But, when Tum Tum looked around, Mr. Boom was not to be seen. He had gotten away. He had turned, and run out of the trap, and he was so big and strong that even the tame elephants, with the hunters on their backs, could not stop him. Away he rushed into the jungle. But he was very sad, for he alone, of all the herd, had escaped.
"I wonder of whom they can be speaking, so big and strong," thought Tum Tum. He saw two tame elephants, with hunters on their backs, and carrying chains, coming toward him.
"Why--why, they must mean me!" said Tum Tum to himself. He stopped trying to break down the fence, which the hunters had built as a trap, and waited.
"Look out for him," said one of the men. "He looks dangerous. He looks like a bad elephant."
Tum Tum was not a bad elephant. He was very strong, but he was not bad.
"Oh, mamma, what shall I do?" cried Tum Tum, as he saw the tame elephants, with chains, coming closer to him.
For all his great strength, Tum Tum was yet only a boy elephant. He was not very wise. He did not know what to do.
"Listen," said Tum Tum's father. "You are now the leader of the herd, Tum Tum. Mr. Boom is gone, and I am too old to be the leader. So you must be. We elephants will do as you do. If you can break down the fence, and get away from the hunters, we will follow you."
"I will try, once more, to break down the fence," said Tum Tum. "Let some of the strong, young elephants come to help me. Come, Whoo-ee--come, Gumble-umble! We will smash down the fence!"
But one of the tame elephants, who heard what Tum Tum said, called to him, and spoke:
"Oh, brother. Do not break down the fence."
"Why not?" asked Tum Tum, who could easily understand the language of the tame elephant. "Why should I not break the fence, and let my friends, and my father and mother, out of this trap. Why not?"
"Because," answered the tame elephant, with the chains, "you cannot do it. Already you are held with ropes, and soon we will put more chains on you, so that you cannot move."
"And why would you--you who are elephants like ourselves--why would you do this to us, who never harmed you?" asked Tum Tum.
"Because it is for your good," said the tame elephant. "The white hunters are very strong. You may get away from them now, but they will come after you again. It is better to give in now. If you are good, and do not try to break down the fence, you will wear no chains."
"But what will happen to us--to me and my father and mother?" asked Tum Tum.
"You will be put to work, piling teak logs in the woods," said the tame elephant. "You will have enough to eat, you will have shelter from the rain and the flies. You will have water to drink and to wash in. It is a good life. I like it."
"Is that all that will happen to me?" asked Tum Tum.
"Perhaps not," answered the tame elephant. "You may be sent far across the big water, in a house that floats, and go, as other elephants have gone, to a circus, or menagerie, for the boys and girls to look at, and feed peanuts to."
"What are peanuts?" asked Tum Tum, who was hungry.
"I do not know, never having eaten any," said the tame elephant. "But one of my brothers, who was in a circus in a far off land, and who came back here, said they were very good. Now shall we put the chains on you--I and my tame brothers--or will you be quiet--you and the others?"
Tum Tum thought for a minute. After all he was caught, and it would be hard to get away, even if he were the strongest elephant in the herd, now that Mr. Boom was gone. Then, too, it might be nice in a circus, and Tum Tum certainly wanted to see what peanuts were like.
"I--I will be good, tame brother," he said. "You need not put the chains and ropes on me."
"You are wise, Tum Tum," said the tame elephant. "We will put no chains on you. And about the others?" he