“Stop it! Somebody stop the buffalo’s cage!” cried the circus men, and several of them ran after it. But they were too far away, and Shaggo’s cage might have gone down the hill and been broken open on the rocks and trees at the bottom, only for what Tum Tum did.
The jolly elephant saw that something was wrong, and, in a way, Tum Tum understood men’s talk. His trainer had taught him to stand on his head and lie down, and whenever he heard these words Tum Tum knew what to do. So, when the big, jolly elephant heard the men shouting he knew something had happened. He looked toward the rolling cage, with the buffalo in it. By this time Shaggo was beginning to feel frightened.
“If there’s a smash my sore shoulder will be hurt again! Ouch! I don’t want that to happen!” thought Shaggo. Then he bellowed out:
“Somebody stop my cage from going to smash!”
“I’ll save you! I’ll stop your cage!” cried Tum Tum.
The big elephant ran down the little hill until he was in front of the buffalo’s cage. Even if he was almost as large as a small house, Tum Tum could run fast. It did not take him long to put himself in front of the rolling cage. Then with his big head lowered, Tum Tum stood still, and when the cage came along it bumped gently into the elephant and came to a stop. Shaggo was not shaken up at all.
“Oh, look!” cried the circus men. “Tum Tum stopped the buffalo’s cage from going to smash.”
“Yes, you can always depend on Tum Tum,” said the elephant’s keeper. “He’s a smart beast.”
“Thank you, so much, Tum Tum,” said Shaggo, in animal talk, as he looked out through the bars and saw what his new friend had done. “You saved my lame shoulder from being bumped.”
“I’m glad I did,” replied the elephant. “Now keep still, Shaggo, and I’ll push your cage back up the hill where you’ll be all right.”