One day, when spring was near at hand, and when it was nearly time for the circus to travel on the road, from one town to another, Tum Tum was out in front of the barn, helping push some of the big circus wagons about. He pushed them with his strong head.
All at once Tum Tum felt something bite him on the hind leg, and he heard a barking noise, such as monkeys sometimes make.
"Is that you, Mappo?" asked Tum Tum quickly. He could not turn around, for he was pushing the wagon up hill.
"Bow wow! Bow wow! Bow wow!" was the barking answer, and Tum Tum felt his legs nipped again.
"Stop that, Mappo, if you please," said the big elephant. "Please don't do that, when I am pushing this wagon."
But Tum Tum's leg was bitten again, and he cried:
"Mappo, I shall squeeze you in my trunk, if you do not let me alone. I like a joke as well as you do, but it is no fun to have your legs nipped when you are pushing a heavy wagon. Stop it!"
"Bow wow! Bow wow! Bow wow!" came the answer.
"That doesn't sound exactly like Mappo," said Tum Tum. "I wonder who it can be?"
When Tum Tum had pushed the wagon to the top of the hill, he could turn around. Then, instead of seeing the merry little monkey, he saw a big black and white dog, who was barking and nipping at his heels.