“Well, say, the Big Show is started an’ about halfway through when the Boss Canvasman is ready to strike the animal tent an’ make for the cars. The horses is put to the dens, an’ they is all soon on the road, with the walkin’ stock followin’. Then the boys gets to the elephants an’ tries to start ’em, but not a one will move. They gives them the spear, but not a move. They gets to hollerin’ an’ more spearin’, but they might as well tried to move mountains. The Boss come in, an’ he tries it, but no go. They moves a lot of hay down the lot, thinkin’ it will make ’em look for another feedin’, but no go. Then one of the trainers what had been helpin’ the head trainer stan’s out an’ calls ’em by name. They flaps their big ears, but not a move. It’s time for the section to be pullin’ out, an’ we all hands is up against it.
“Well, I sez to myself, here’s your chance to be smart an’ redeem it all for Jed,—the trainer what was fired for drinkin’. I hustles over to the tavern an’ finds Jed puttin’ away the juice like he was loadin’ a train. I gives him a long talk an’ tells him about the elephants. He calls ’em his darlings an’ wants to buy more drink. I begs him to come over an’ help us out, but he’s sore on the Boss an’ won’t make a move. After awhile I gets him to thinkin’, an’ he sez he’ll do it. Jed was pretty full an’ was staggerin’, but I gets him to the lot where ev’ry animal man in the outfit is a spearin’ them beasts, while the Boss is cussin’, an’ the whole town roostin’ on the sidewalk an’ givin’ us the laugh. I gets Jed in an’ right in front of the Boss.
“The Boss is still sore, and sez, ‘Take that loafer away.’
“‘Wait,’ sez I.
“Then afore there could be any argument Jed staggers out in front of the herd, and, leaning heavy-like on the bale of hay, begins callin’:
“‘King,’ he yells.
“The biggest bull in the herd lifts his ear, then holds up his trunk an’ gives a shriek that scares the crowd white.
“‘Stop that spearin’!’ sez Jed, an’ every animal man gits out of the way.
“‘King!’ yells Jed again, an’ with that he walks over an’ touches the elephant on the trunk. The big bull wheels around and starts away.
“‘Sam, Dick, Boss, Frank!’ keeps yellin’ Jed, an’ the whole herd is turnin’ an’ takin’ the road to the depot.