straighten up till you feel the trunk about you. We'll make a
showman of you before you know it."

"I seem to be the whole show as it is," grumbled Phil.

"You are, just now--you and Emperor. Good thing the other
performers are not in the ring, or they would all be jealous of
you."

"I wish Uncle Abner could see me now. Wouldn't he be mad!"
grinned Phil, as the memory of his crabbed relative came back to
him. "He'd come right out after me with his stick, he'd be so
angry. But I guess Emperor wouldn't let him touch me," decided
the boy proudly, with an affectionate pat to which the elephant
responded with a cough that sounded not unlike the explosion of a
dynamite cartridge.

"All ready now. Don't be afraid. Hold each position till I give
you the word to change it."

"Ready," announced the lad.

"Emperor! Jupiter!"

The twitching of a ponderous ear of each animal told that they
had heard and understood.

"Rise!"

Phil had scrambled to all fours.