"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 coming 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 companion. "I'm going to 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.