"Oh, I don't believe you could ride on the elephant's back," said the little boy's papa.
"They can, if you will let them," said Tum Tum's keeper. "My elephant is very kind and gentle, and many children ride on him. I will hold them on, if you are willing."
"Oh, let us, papa!" cried a little girl.
"All right, I don't mind," he said.
Tum Tum was led close to a wagon, from which the children could easily get into the little house on his back. In that they sat with their papa and the keeper, and around the circus grounds they went. It was not yet time for the show, and Tum Tum did not have to go in.
"Oh, what a lovely ride!" cried the little boy, when it was over. "Thank you so much!"
Tum Tum was glad the children had enjoyed it.
Then, as the boy and girl got down from the elephant's back, their toy balloons slipped out of their hands and floated off through the air.
"Oh, there goes my balloon!" cried the little girl.
"And there goes mine, too!" cried the little boy. "Oh, papa!"