"And may I buy him some popcorn balls?" asked the boy.
"Oh, yes, but I hope Tum Tum doesn't become ill from all that sweet stuff," said the papa.
"Oh, I guess he won't—he's used to being fed by the children," the circus man said.
When Tum Tum heard the boy and girl talking about getting him good things to eat, the big elephant felt very glad. For he was such a big fellow that he was nearly always hungry, and, no matter how many peanuts or popcorn balls he had, he was always willing to eat more.
It was now nearly time for the circus to begin, and Tum Tum was led back toward the tent, the children still riding on his back, holding tightly to the strings of their balloons. They were not going to lose them a second time, if they could help it.
Near the tent was the same peanut man whose stand had nearly burned up the time Tum Tum put out the blaze with water from his trunk. The boy and girl bought two bags full of peanuts from this man, and from another man they bought popcorn balls. These they fed to Tum Tum, who reached out his trunk for them, and put them into his mouth.
"Good-by, Tum Tum!" called the little girl to him, waving one hand, while in the other she held her balloon.
"Good-by, elephant!" called the little boy, also waving his hand. "I'll see you in the circus," he added.
Tum Tum waved his trunk. He was too busy chewing popcorn and peanuts to speak, even if he could have talked boy and girl language, which he could not.
Later on, in the show, Tum Tum, as he went through his tricks, saw the little boy and girl sitting near the ring, with their papa, watching the animals and performers.