"Hold him, Emperor!"

The great trunk curled up, ran over the boy's legs and twined
about them.

"Up you go, kid!"

Phil raised himself fearlessly, straightened and stood full upon
his feet. That strong grip on his legs gave him confidence and
told him he had nothing to fear. All he would have to do would
be to keep his ears open for the trainer's commands both to
himself and the beast, and he would be all right.

He felt himself going up again.

The sensation was something akin to that which Phil had once
experienced when jumping off a haystack. He felt as if his whole
body were being tickled by straws.

The elephants were rising on their hind legs, uttering shrill
screams and mighty coughs, as if enraged over the humiliation
that was being put upon them.

It seemed to Phil as if Emperor would never stop going up until
the lad's head was against the top of the tent. He ventured to
look down.

What a distance it was! Phil hastily directed his glances
upward.