Around this he went half a dozen times.
“Now keep him back with your prods!” he sang out.
More enraged than ever, the elephant tried to pull himself free.
But the rope held, and he was forced on his knees, roaring with pain, for an elephant’s trunk is his most sensitive organ.
A shout of approval went up, and the crowd paused in its hasty flight.
But the elephant was not yet a prisoner. He pulled and tugged, and had the centerpole not been so strong and so deeply set in the ground, he would surely have either broken it off or pulled it up.
But now he hesitated, and in that moment more attendants came up. One began to soothe him, while the others slipped a leather and iron harness over him. Soon he was a complete prisoner, and realizing this, he shambled back to the menagerie tent as mildly as a lamb.
The rain was now coming down in a perfect deluge, and the audience would not remain. In less than a quarter of an hour the circus grounds were deserted, saving for those who had to remain on duty, and the performers in the dressing-tents.
Every one praised Leo for what he had done; every one, that is, but Snipper. He had not a word to say, but looked more morose than ever.
Leo did not wait, however, to hear all that the others had to say. He donned his regular clothing just as quickly as he could, and with Natalie Sparks rode from the grounds to the hotel at which they were stopping.