“‘Goodness, no,’ laughed Gray Ears. ‘Still, there are many—two score and more.’

“‘Alas, then,’ I sighed, ‘they will not need Diggeldy Dan.’

“‘Nevertheless they will keep you,’ answered my friend, as we sat down to our meal, ‘and for this reason: as you of course know, I am a runaway from the Very Biggest Circus, and one of its very great features. Now, while I said nothing at the time, I came upon this placard tacked to a tree while you were examining the circus grounds at the edge of the town last night.’

“And with that Gray Ears produced a square of bright yellow cardboard with these words in tall type printed on it:

LOST

Gray Ears, The Elephant

Large and Suitable

Reward if Returned

to

The Very Biggest Circus