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Updated: May 20, 2025
"What's sliding down hill?" asked Umboo, and of course, you understand, all this talk was in animal language. "Sliding down hill is fun," went on Keedah. "You know Old Tusker went up to the top of a place, called a hill, to look and see about the hunters in the jungle. Well, there is a hill on the other side of this river, and when we get across I'm going to the top of it and slide down.
"My mother or father may like it. And I can show it to Keedah. He can tell by the size of this branch that the tree I knocked over must be a big one. Then I'll bring him here and show him the tree. I'm almost as big and strong as he is." So thinking, Umboo went on through the forest. Each tree, leaf and vine was dripping water, for it was still raining hard.
"I know what I'm going to do when I get on the other shore," spoke Keedah, as once more he swam up along side of Umboo and his mother. "What?" asked the little elephant who was having such a nice ride across the river. "What are you going to do?" "I am going to have a slide down hill," went on Keedah, who did not seem to be going to make any more trouble.
For Keedah had forgotten some of his wildness, and did not know so well how to keep away from the men who were after him, as he had known when he lived in the herd, with Tusker to lead the way. So Keedah, tired and dirty, and hungry too, it must be said for he had not found good things to eat in the woods Keedah was brought back.
Now be a good boy, and don't shower any more water on the baby elephants." So Keedah promised that he wouldn't, and Umboo clung as tightly as he could, with his sprawly legs, to his mother's broad back as she swam across the river. The water was wide, at this part of the jungle, but elephants are good swimmers.
Finally he caught them, and struck them with his trunk. But it was all in fun, and no one minded it. Then, a little later, when Umboo was standing near the river, Keedah came up behind him and knocked him into the water. "Now we are even!" laughed Keedah as he ran away. "I don't mind!" said Umboo. "I was going in for another swim, anyhow. I like to be wet."
And the work you will learn to do, after you go to school, as you and Umboo will go, will not be hard. Take my advice and stay where you are." "Well, I guess I'll have to," said Keedah, with a funny look at Umboo. "I didn't know he heard me," he whispered, as if the tame elephant were a teacher in school, which, in a way, he was.
I like my men friends too much, for they are good to me." The keepers got other elephants and hunted Keedah in the forest. For three days they searched for him, and at last they found him and brought him back.
"Swim on your own side, Keedah, and don't splash water on Umboo." But Keedah was a little elephant chap full of mischief, and he did not do as he was told. Instead he filled his trunk with water and sprayed it all over Umboo. "Ouch!" cried the little elephant baby, for the water felt cold, at first. "Stop it, Keedah!" "Ha! Ha! I made you get wet, whether you swim or not!" laughed Keedah.
"At first I was a little afraid, when I got to the top of the hill, and saw how steep it was, and how far it seemed down to the bottom where the river ran. But I stuck my front feet out in front of me, and I sat down on the back part of my hind legs, where my skin is very thick, and then, all of a sudden Keedah came up behind me and gave me a push."
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