Tum Tum took one little bite, holding the carrot in his trunk. And, as soon as he chewed on it, he knew that he liked carrots very much.
"Ha! That is certainly good!" he said to Hoy. "I wish I had carrots every day."
"Oh, but you won't get them every day," said the old elephant. "They are just special, to get you to feeling jolly, so you will learn your tricks more easily."
"Well, I feel pretty jolly anyhow," said Tum Tum. "I'll do any tricks I can."
He did not know yet all that was to happen to him, before he learned to do his tricks.
Tum Tum had been in the circus nearly a week before he was taught any tricks. In that week he had plenty to eat, and good water to drink, some of which he spurted over himself with his trunk. That was his way of taking a bath, you see.
Then, one day, some circus men came to where Tum Tum was chained, and one of them said:
"Now, we'll take out this big elephant, and teach him some tricks. Get Hoy, so he'll show Tum Tum what we want done."
"Ha! So now the tricks begin!" cried Tum Tum to Hoy.
"Yes, and you want to watch out, and do as you are told, or you may not like it," said Hoy.