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His father was a great big elephant, named Tusky, and he was called this because he had two big, long, white teeth, called tusks, sticking out on either side of his long trunk, which was like a fat rubber hose. Tum Tum's mother was named Mrs. Tusky, but she did not have any long teeth like her husband.

Of course none of the circus men could understand this language, but Tum Tum's keeper knew what the big elephant meant. The keeper came running in the tent. "Tum Tum!" he cried. "I believe you can stop that wagon. Stop the tiger cage! Get in front of it, and push on it with your big head. That will stop it from rolling down hill!" "I will!

Tum Tum's trainer would sometimes sit on these tusks, or on Tum Tum's trunk, and ride around the ring. Tum Tum liked his keeper, or trainer, very much, just as Mappo liked his own circus man.

I will!" said Tum Tum, only, of course, he spoke in elephant language. The keeper soon took the chain off Tum Tum's leg, and the big elephant rushed out of the tent, and toward the rolling wagon. None of the men had yet been able to stop it, and it was half way down the hill now, going faster and faster.

"He pushed the wagon out of the mud, and now he has put out a peanut wagon fire. Some elephants have all the luck in this world." Tum Tum's eyes twinkled, but he said nothing. He just ate the popcorn balls and peanuts. But he was not at all proud or stuck up. Tum Tum was now such a gentle and tame elephant, that children could ride on his back.

But the circus man looked at Tum Tum's long, white ivory tusks, and on one of them were some splashes of pink lemonade. "Yes, Tum Tum, you did it," said the man. "Well, I won't punish you, for you did not know any better, I suppose." "But what about my lemonade?" asked the peddler. "Don't I get paid for it?" "Yes, I guess the circus will have to pay you," spoke the keeper.

But Tum Tum's leg was bitten again, and he cried: "Mappo, I shall squeeze you in my trunk, if you do not let me alone. I like a joke as well as you do, but it is no fun to have your legs nipped when you are pushing a heavy wagon. Stop it!" "Bow wow! Bow wow! Bow wow!" came the answer. "That doesn't sound exactly like Mappo," said Tum Tum. "I wonder who it can be?"

Whooo-ish! went more water from Tum Tum's trunk on the blazing peanut wagon and straw. Hiss! went the fire again, as it felt the wet water. Fire does not like water, you know. "Once more, Tum Tum! One more trunk full, and you'll have the fire out!" cried the elephant's keeper. Again Tum Tum dipped his trunk into the tub of water, and spurted it on the fire. This time the fire went out completely.

The five elephants stopped short, and were beginning to get afraid when, all at once, Tum Tum's mother burst through the bushes and came up to him. "Oh, I was so frightened!" she said, speaking through her trunk. "I thought you were never coming!" "Oh, we heard Mr. Boom," said Tum Tum, "and we came on as soon as we could. But what's the matter, mamma?"

Tum Tum has done it!" shouted another. "I told you he was strong," said Tum Tum's keeper. "He surely is," spoke the head circus man. "But I never thought he could push that wagon." Tum Tum had not thought so himself, but even an elephant never knows what he can do until he tries. "Huh!