“I did,” answered Tum Tum. “I was there for a while. But now I am back in the circus again. It was while I was on a sort of visit to the jungle that I met Chunky, the happy hippo, and pulled him out of a mud hole.”
“And where is Chunky now?” asked Sharp Eyes. “I would like to see him.”
“He was with this circus,” answered Tum Tum, the elephant, “but now he is in the park zoo, or menagerie, as they call it to be stylish. Did Don tell you how Chunky saved a little girl who fell into his tank?”
“Yes,” answered Sharp Eyes, “he did. Chunky must be real smart.”
“Well, not as smart as a fox, for I have heard that they are very smart and cunning,” returned the elephant. “But still Chunky does very well. He can do tricks, and he has had a book written about him.”
“There it goes again!” cried Sharp Eyes. “Every one seems to be in a book; but I’m not.”
“Maybe you will be some day,” said Tum Tum. “You are young yet. But tell me—why did they catch you and put you in a box on a train? Can you do circus tricks?”
“No,” replied the fox. “But they think my silver fur is worth much money. That’s why they caught me. I wish I was red or brown, and then they wouldn’t bother me so. But silver foxes are rare, they say.”
“I believe they are,” went on the elephant. “I have been in a circus a long while and I never saw a silver fox before, nor are there any in the zoological park, where Chunky lives.
“But I must be going,” went on Tum Tum, the jolly elephant. “I have to push some of the heavy wagons around the circus lot. They always call on me for that, as I am so strong. I hope you’ll have a nice time where you are going.”