Part 6 (2/2)

”Capital, capital!” said the bully ”If you distinguish yourself in this e shall have to make you Mathematical Instructor-in-General to the whole army”

But the Elephant made no reply

”That's the thickest-skinned animal I ever met,” said the Officer to his men

But herein he ot an insult, but paid it back upon the first opportunity

The opportunity, in this case, was not long in arriving; it came, indeed, all too soon for the Officer's taste

It occurred in this way

One day a little boy came into the shop and asked to look at some soldiers, upon which the shopwoman showed him the wooden warriors

”No, I don't like them,” he said; ”they have to move all the same way at once It is very stupid of them Have you no others?”

”Not just at thesoo”

”Then I'll take a train,” said the boy ”But it is very funny that you should have such a poor lot of soldiers as these”

”That silly reht the Officer to himself with some alarm ”I shall make the men practise sword-drill in the most open fashi+on for several hours This will remind the world that we are not to be trifled with”

But it is one thing toto carry it into effect This the Officer was to experience ere the day was over

For in putting the Soldiers back into their place the shopwoainst a dolls' house Being a very hard blow it knocked him off the platform, and, unnoticed by her, he fell on his back upon the counter

Now cae _The Officer fell just under the animal's trunk!_

It was, as the Officer at once realized, by no means a pleasant situation As his men were some yards away from him, and unable to come in a body to his rescue till perhaps too late, the Officer was exceedingly uneasy

”I had better soothe the monster,” he said to himself Then aloud, and in a pleasant voice: ”What a nice handy trunk that is of yours; you must be able to carry so much in it? As for , a hat-box, and a gun-case; it is a terrible nuisance”

He paused, but the Elephant made no reply

”This is not very pleasant,” said the Officer uneasily to himself ”I fear the beast is of a sulky temper What _will_ happen toand fearful

At last the day closed in, the Mortals shut up the shop and left, and the time of the Toys arrived

The Elephant then addressed the Officer in a slow voice and ponderous manner

”I feel inclined to trample on you,” he remarked