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〃Yes； sir。〃
The lads delivered the message。
Mr。 Sparling's eyes twinkled as these two worthies sneaked into his
tent； each with a hangdog expression on his face。 〃Red〃 Larry had a black
eye； while Bad Eye's nose appeared to have listed to one side。
The showman glanced at Larry's coat； then at the button in his own
hand。 He nodded understandingly。 Bad Eye was collarless。
〃Here's a button that I think you lost off your coat last night； Larry；〃
smiled Mr。 Sparling sweetly。 〃And； Bad Eye； here's your collar。 Better
send it to the washerwoman。〃
The men were speechless for the moment。
〃Go to the boss； both of you； and get your time。 Then I want you to
clear out of here。〃
〃Whawhatwe ain't done nothing；〃 protested Larry。
〃And you had better not。 If I see you about the circus lot again this
season； I'll have you both in the nearest jail quicker than you can say 'scat！'
Understand？ Get out of here！〃
The showman half rose from his chair； glaring angrily at them。 His
good…nature had suddenly left him； and the canvasmen； knowing what
they might expect from the wrathful showman； stood not upon the order of
their going。 They ran。
Larry had left some of his belongings behind a cage in the menagerie
tent； and he headed directly for that place to get it out and foot it for the
village before Mr。 Sparling should discover him on the grounds。
In going after his bundle Larry was obliged to pass the elephant station；
where the elephants were taking their morning baths； throwing water over
their backs from tubs that had been placed before them。 A pail full of
water had been left near old Emperor's tub by the keeper； because the tub
would hold no more。
Emperor apparently had not observed it； nor did he seem to see the
red…headed canvasman striding his way。 Mr。 Kennedy； the keeper； was at
the far end of the line sweeping off the baby elephant with a broom； while
Phil and Teddy were sitting on a pile of straw back of Emperor discussing
their experience the previous evening。
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〃There's Red；〃 said Teddy； pointing。
〃Yes； and he seems to be in a great hurry about something。 I'll bet Mr。
Sparling has discharged him。 I'm sorry。 I hate to see anybody lose his
job； but I guess Red deserves it if anybody does。 He's one of the fellows
that attacked us last night。 I haven't the least doubt about that。〃
〃Yes； and he's got a button off his coat； too；〃 added Teddy； peering
around Emperor。 〃What I want now is to see a fellow with his collar torn
off。 I got a tent stake here by me that I'd like to meet him with。〃
〃You would do nothing of the sort； Teddy Tucker！ Hello； what's
going on there？〃
As Larry passed swiftly in front of Emperor； the old elephant's trunk
suddenly wrapped itself about the pail of water unobserved by the
discharged canvasman。
Emperor lifted the pail on high； quickly twisted it bottom side up and
jammed it down over the head of Larry。 The latter went down under the
impact and before he could free himself from the pail and get up； Emperor
had performed the same service for him with the tub of water。
Under the deluge Red Larry was yelling and choking； making
desperate efforts to get up。 He struggled free in a moment； and in his
blind rage he hurled the empty pail full in Emperor's face； following it
with a blow over the animal's trunk with a tent stake。
It was the elephant's turn to be angry now。 He did not take into
consideration that it was he that was to blame for the assault。 Stretching
out his trunk； he encircled the waist of the yelling canvasman； and； raising
him on high； dashed him to the ground almost under his ponderous feet。
Phil had risen about the time the tub came down。 At first he laughed；
but when the elephant caught his victim； the lad knew that the situation
was critical。
〃Emperor！ Down！〃 he shouted。
It was then that the elephant cast Red under his feet。
Phil darted forward just as a ponderous foot was raised to trample the
man to death。 Without the least sense of fear the lad ran in under
Emperor； and； grabbing Larry by the heels； dragged him quickly out。
The elephant was furious at the loss of his prey； and； raising his trunk；
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trumpeted his disapproval； straining at his chains and showing every sign
of dangerous restlessness。
After getting Larry out of harm's way； Phil sprang fearlessly toward
his elephant friend。
〃Quiet； Emperor； you naughty boy！〃 Forrest chided。 〃Don't you
know you might have killed him？ I wouldn't want anything to do with
you if you had done a thing like that。〃
Gradually the great beast grew quiet and his sinuous trunk sought out
the Circus Boy's pockets in search of sweets； of which there was a limited
supply。
While this was going on Mr。 Kennedy； the keeper； had hurried up and
dashed a pail of water into the face of the now unconscious Larry。 By
this time Larry was well soaked down。 He could not have been more so
had he fallen in a mill pond。 But the last bucketful brought him quickly to
his senses。
〃Youyou'll pay for this；〃 snarled Larry； shaking his fist at Phil
Forrest。
〃Why； I didn't do anything； Larry；〃 answered the lad in amazement。
〃You did。 You set him on to me。〃
〃That'll be about all from you； Mr。 Red Head；〃 warned Kennedy。 〃The
kid didn't do anything but save your life。 I wouldn't let a little thing like
that trouble me if I were you。 You've been doing something to that bull； or
he'd never have used you like that。 Why； Emperor is as gentle as a young
kitten。 He wouldn't hurt a fly unless the fly happened to bite him too hard。
Phil； did you see that fellow do anything to him？〃
Phil shook his head。
〃Not now。 He may have at some other time。〃
〃That's it！〃
Just then Mr。 Sparling came charging down on the scene； having heard
of the row out at the front door。
Larry saw hi