“But what can we do with him?” asked another man.
“We can sell him to some zoological park,” was the answer. “There is a city, not far from here, that is starting a new zoo. They have not very many animals as yet, and they will be glad to buy this buffalo from us, even if he does limp. People do not have to pay money to come to a zoological park, and they are not so fussy about what they see. We’ll sell Shaggo to the zoo. That will be the best place for him. He will not have to travel around so much and his shoulder may get better.”
Of course Shaggo did not understand this talk, any more than the circus men understood the talk of the animals. But after a few days, when Shaggo had traveled on a little farther with the circus, a change came.
One afternoon several men came into the animal tent after the show was over. They stood in front of the buffalo’s cage.
“This is Shaggo,” said one of the circus owners. “He is a good buffalo, and the only thing the matter with him is that one of his shoulders is swelled, and he limps. But for a zoo he will be all right.”
“Yes, I think he will,” said one of the visitors. “We’ll buy him.”
Later, somewhat to his surprise, Shaggo’s cage was wheeled out of the tent, Tum Tum the elephant pushing it.
“What is going on?” asked the buffalo, for he had not understood the men’s talk. “Is the circus going to move now, Tum Tum, before we have given the night show?”
“No, I think not,” answered the jolly elephant. “All I know is that my keeper told me to wheel out your cage. But I am not to wheel out any of the others. Maybe they are taking you away, Shaggo, to cure the rheumatism in your shoulder.”