"I wonder of whom they can be speaking, so big and strong," thought Tum Tum. He saw two tame elephants, with hunters on their backs, and carrying chains, coming toward him.
"Why—why, they must mean me!" said Tum Tum to himself. He stopped trying to break down the fence, which the hunters had built as a trap, and waited.
"Look out for him," said one of the men. "He looks dangerous. He looks like a bad elephant."
Tum Tum was not a bad elephant. He was very strong, but he was not bad.
"Oh, mamma, what shall I do?" cried Tum Tum, as he saw the tame elephants, with chains, coming closer to him.
For all his great strength, Tum Tum was yet only a boy elephant. He was not very wise. He did not know what to do.
"Listen," said Tum Tum's father. "You are now the leader of the herd, Tum Tum. Mr. Boom is gone, and I am too old to be the leader. So you must be. We elephants will do as you do. If you can break down the fence, and get away from the hunters, we will follow you."
"I will try, once more, to break down the fence," said Tum Tum. "Let some of the strong, young elephants come to help me. Come, Whoo-ee—come, Gumble-umble! We will smash down the fence!"
But one of the tame elephants, who heard what Tum Tum said, called to him, and spoke:
"Oh, brother. Do not break down the fence."