Part 16 (2/2)

”Hip! Hip!” began Teddy.

”That will do, young man,” warned Mr. Sparling.

The line moved slowly forward, Jupiter offering no objection to going where he was ordered.

Just as he reached the gangplank, however, Jupiter halted.

”Forward!”

The elephant's trunk curled upward and a mighty trumpeting sent the villagers scurrying for places of safety.

Mr. Kennedy prodded the elephant with the sharp point of his hook. The act forced Jupiter to place one foot on the gang plank, throwing his weight upon the planking to test its stability. He felt it give ever so little beneath his feet, and quickly withdrew the foot.

Once more the prod was brought into use. Jupiter waxed angry.

With a great cough, he curled his trunk about the heavy gangplank, wrenching it free from its resting place.

Raising the planking high above his head he hurled it into the river.

”Ladies and gentlemen,” announced Teddy Tucker, in a loud voice, ”you have witnessed a most satisfying, edifying, gratifying, enn.o.bling, superb and sublime spectacular prelude, as our press agent would say. But, if you know what's good for you, you will now hasten to the high places, for there's going to be something doing around here in about a minute.”

Teddy was no false prophet in this instance.

Strutting up to the angry Jupiter the Circus Boy slapped him playfully on the trunk.

”You bad boy. I thought January was the limit, but I have changed my mind. You--”

Suddenly Jupiter's trunk curled about the lad. The angry elephant raised the boy far above his head and hurled him up into the air as he had done with the gangway, except that he threw Teddy in another direction.

CHAPTER IX

PHIL FORREST TO THE RESCUE

”Catch Teddy! Catch him!” shouted Mr. Sparling.

”The boy has gone into the river!” cried half a dozen voices at once.

”No; the bull threw him toward the boat. He may have shot right on over and into the water or he may still be on the upper deck,”

answered Mr. Kennedy, as he plied his prod industriously, shouting his orders to the other elephants that already were showing signs of restlessness.

By this time a boat had been launched from the dock, and half a dozen men had gone in search of the lost gangway that was now floating slowly down the river some distance away.

”Ahoy, boat!” bellowed Mr. Sparling. ”Row around to the other side and see if Tucker is in the river.”

At the same time the owner of the show was running toward the ”Marie.” He plunged into the ma.s.s of equipment on the lower deck, lost his footing and went rolling under a lion's cage. He was on his feet and bounding up the stairs almost in the next second.

Just as he reached the upper deck he met Phil Forrest emerging from the cabin, attracted by the uproar.

<script>