Tum Tum, though he had been a wild elephant in the jungle only a few weeks before, had learned many things, since he had been caught. He had learned that men were his friends, and would not hurt him, though they made him do as they wanted him to, and ordered him about as though he were a little dog instead of a big, strong elephant. The men did not seem to be afraid of Tum Tum, though he was a little afraid of them, especially when they carried sharp hooks, which hurt one's skin.
"Come along!" cried the man who was leading Tum Tum and the others, and over to one side of the circus barn they went, to be chained by a leg to a very strong stake driven into the ground.
"Feed them up well," said the first man, "and then we'll see about putting them through some tricks."
"Ha!" thought Tum Tum. "So the tricks are to begin soon, are they? I wonder what kind I shall do, and whether I shall like them or not?"
Tum Tum waited anxiously to see what would happen next. What did happen was that he got something to eat, and a little treat into the bargain.
For with the big pile of hay that was given him, there were some long, pointed yellow things.
"Ha! What are those?" asked Tum Tum of Hoy, the big, tame elephant who had been in a circus before.
"They are carrots," said Hoy.
"Are they good to eat?" asked Tum Tum.
"Try and see," answered Hoy, with a twinkle in his little eyes. He was eating the yellow carrots as fast as he could.