seat," he exclaimed. "But, if I am going to be late I won't be
alone. There are a whole lot more of us that were too much
interested in the animal trainer to think to come in and get our
seats. I guess I had better run. I--"

Phil started to run, but he got no further than the start.

All at once his waist was encircled in a powerful grip and he
felt his feet leaving the ground. Phil was being raised straight
up into the air by some strange force, the secret of which he did
not understand.



CHAPTER VIII

IN THE SAWDUST ARENA

The lad repressed an inclination to cry out, for the thing that
had encircled his waist and raised him up seemed to be tightening
about him.

A familiar voice just behind him served to calm Phil's disquieted
nerves.

"Don't be frightened, kid. It's only Emperor having a little
joke. He's a funny fellow," said the elephant's attendant.

Phil had read somewhere that elephants possessed a keen sense of
humor, and now he was sure of it. But he never thought he would