“‘What I whispered,’ said Gray Ears, again answering my question, ‘was simply, “The children are waiting for us.” And, from the sound of the shouts that are now greeting our ears, I think I wasn’t far wrong. So go now; go to those who are calling your name.’
“As he finished he gave me a gentle shove with his trunk and turned to go into the menagerie tent, while I skipped gayly away to join the rest of the clowns.
“And with that,” ended Dan, “you have heard the whole of my story.”
“Did Gray Ears ever run away any more?” asked Camel.
“Time’s up! Time’s up” called Hippo, who had on this day been placed in charge of the Watch.
“Away to your places, then,” ordered Diggeldy Dan, “and to-morrow we’ll meet once again. For though my tale’s at an end, we may safely depend that another will soon follow after.”
CHAPTER XVII
IN WHICH THE ANIMALS ENTERTAIN AN UNEXPECTED CALLER
In Spangleland’s realm are many massive blue poles, and among the biggest of these are those that stand in the center of the menagerie tent. Between the bases of two of them is a broad, open space, and it was here all the animals were gathered at twilight on the day following that upon which had ended the tale of Gray Ears, the Elephant.
“And I’m sure all remember your very last words,” Lion was saying to Diggeldy Dan. “As I recall them they ran something like this: ‘For though my tale’s at an end we may safely depend that another will soon follow after.’”
“Exactly,” said Dan. “And now comes the question as to who’s to provide the next story.”