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〃Haven't decided yet。 I may think it best to leave Jupiter here with
perhaps the baby elephant for pany。 He would cut up； I'm afraid；
were I to leave him here alone。 No； I think； upon second thought； that we
had better take him out。 It may take his mind from his troubles。〃
〃What do you think is the matter with him？〃 questioned the Circus
Boy； regarding the beast thoughtfully。
〃That's what bothers me。 He has never acted this way before。
Usually there are some signs that I told you about once before that tells
one an elephant is going bad。〃
〃You mean the tear drops that e out from the slit under the eye？〃
〃Yes。 There has been nothing of that sort with Jupiter。〃
〃He acts to me as if he had a bad stomach；〃 suggested Phil wisely。
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〃That's right。 That expresses it exactly。 I guess we'll have to give
him a pill to set him straight。 But Jupiter never was much of a hand for
pills。 He'll object if we suggest it。〃
〃Then don't suggest it。 Just give it to him in his food。〃
〃You can't fool him；〃 answered Mr。 Kennedy； with a shake of the head。
〃He'd smell it a rod away； and that would make him madder than ever。
The best way is to make him open his mouth and throw the pill back as far
as possible in his throat。〃
〃Have you told Mr。 Sparling？〃
〃No。 He doesn't like to be bothered with these little things。 He leaves
that all to me。 It's a guess； though； as to just what to do under these
conditions。 No two cases； any more than any two elephants； are alike
when it es to disposition and treatment。〃
〃No； I suppose not。〃
〃Where are you going now； Phil？〃
〃Going back to the dressing tent to get ready for the parade。 Hope you
do not have any trouble。〃
〃No； I guess I shan't。 I can manage to hold him； and if I don't； I'll
turn Emperor loose。 He makes a first…rate policeman。〃
Phil hurried on to the dressing tent； for he was a little late this morning；
for which he was not wholly to blame； considerable time having been lost
in his interview with Mr。 Sparling。
In the hurry of preparation for the parade； Phil forgot all about Mr。
Kennedy's concern over Jupiter。 But he was reminded of it again when
he rode out to fall in line with the procession。 Mr。 Kennedy and his
charges； all well in hand； were just emerging from the menagerie tent to
take their places for the parade。 Jupiter was among them。 He saw； too；
that Mr。 Kennedy was walking by Jupiter's side； giving him almost his
exclusive attention。
Phil's place in the parade this season was with a body of German
cavalry。 He wore a plumed hat； with a gaudy uniform and rode a
handsome bay horse； one of the animals used in the running race at the
close of the circus。 Phil had bee very proficient on horseback and
occasionally had entered the ring races； being light enough for the purpose。
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He had also kept up his bareback practice； under the instruction of
Dimples； until he felt quite proud of his achievements。
Vincennes； where the show was to exhibit that day； was a large town；
and thousands of people had turned out to view the parade which had been
extensively advertised as one of the greatest features ever offered to the
public。
〃They seem to like it；〃 grinned Phil； turning to the rider beside him。
〃Act as if they'd never seen a circus parade before；〃 answered the man。
〃But wait till we get out in some of the way…back towns in the West。〃
〃I thought we were West now？〃
〃Not until we get the other side of the Mississippi； we won't be。 They
don't call Indiana West。 We'll be getting there pretty soon； too。
According to the route card； we are going to make some pretty long jumps
from this on。〃
〃We do not go to Chicago； do we？〃
〃No。 Show's not quite big enough for that town。 We go south of it；
playing some stands in Illinois； then striking straight west。 Hello； what's
the row up ahead there？〃
〃What row； I didn't see anything。〃
〃Something is going on up there。 See！ The line is breaking！〃
The part of the parade in which Phil was located was well up toward
the elephants； the animals at that moment having turned a corner； moving
at right angles to Phil's course。
〃It's the elephants！〃 cried the lad aghast。
〃What's happening？〃
〃They have broken the line！〃
All was confusion at the point on which the two showmen had focused
their eyes。
〃It's a stampede； I do believe！〃 exclaimed Phil。 〃I wonder where Mr。
Kennedy is？ I don't see him anywhere。〃
〃There！ They're ing this way。〃
〃What； the elephants？ Yes； that's so。 Oh； I'm afraid somebody will
be killed。〃
〃If there hasn't already been；〃 growled Phil's panion。 〃I'm going to
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get out of this while I have the chance。 I've seen elephants on the
rampage before。〃 Saying which； the showman turned his horse and rode
out of the line。 His example was followed by many of the others。
People were screaming and rushing here and there； horses neighing；
and the animals in the closed cages roaring in a most terrifying way。
Phil pulled his horse up short； undecided what to do。 He had never
seen a stampede before； but desperate as the situation seemed； he felt no
fear。
The elephants； with lowered heads； were charging straight ahead。 Now
Phil saw that which seemed to send his heart right up into his throat。
Little Dimples had been riding in a gayly bedecked two…wheeled cart；
drawn by a prancing white horse。 Dressed in white from head to foot；
she looked the dainty creature that she was。
Dimples； seeing what had happened； had wheeled her horse quickly
out of line； intending to turn about and drive back along the line。 It
would be a race between the white horse and the elephants； but she felt
sure she would be able to make it and turn down a side street before the
stampeding herd reached her。
She might have done so； had it not been for one unforeseen incident。
As she dashed along a rider； losing his presence of mind； if indeed； he had
had any to lose； drove his horse directly in front of her。 The result was a
quick collision； two struggling horses lying kicking in the dust of the street；
and a white…robed figure lying stretched out perilously near the flying
hoofs。
The force of the collision had thrown Little Dimples headlong from
her seat in the two wheeled cart； and there she lay； half…dazed with the
herd of elephants thundering down upon her。
Phil took in her peril in one swift glance。
〃She'll be killed！ She'll be killed！〃 he cried； all the color suddenly
leaving his face。