Part 7 (1/2)

The Officer closed his eyes with terror; then, half-opening them, he endeavored to look defiantly and speak boldly

”Pre-pre-sump-tu-tu-ous b-b-b-beast!” he faltered

The Elephant looked at hily

”It was on-on-lywith fear, and all the cri from his cheeks

”Do you wish me to spare your life?” asked the Elephant

”It is very valuable,” the Officer replied et his foolish pride even in that awful reat beast threateningly

”Spare me!” cried the coward and bully

The Elephant paused

”Very good,” he answered, ”but only upon my own conditions”

”Certainly, certainly,” the Officer said in a fawning voice ”Many thanks; any conditions that you ht for a long while Then he said:

”These are my conditions You must sub before such Toys as I shall see fit And whenever I stop, you are to announce yourself in these words: 'Good-evening Have you kicked the coward and the bully? The real genuine article, no imitation If you have not kicked him already, kick him without delay'”

”It is too bad of you to require er for the entleman You are--”

”When you have done,” interrupted the Elephant, ”I will begin”

So saying, and amidst the intense excitement of the other Toys, the Elephant, with his trunk, slowly picked up his fallen foe by the back of the coat and began his ponderousfor the Officer

The programme was carried out exactly as the Elephant had said it should be, for the great gray beast was a beast of his word He nevermade it up he rarely altered it

And so it was upon this occasion After every few steps the huge creature stopped before one or another of the Toys, when the fored to announce hi, an invitation which was always accepted, and acted upon with er laid the Officer on the platfor with a-officer; understanding as they did for the first tireat beast and afraid to interfere

Having placed his humble foe in his old position, only upon his back instead of upon his feet, the Elephant with his trunk deliberately knocked over all the Soldiers one after the other Then he grunted and walked sloay

So ended the reign of terror which the Officer and his Soldiers had established over the toy-shop And so universal was the relief experienced after the strain that had been felt, that the Elephant was everywhere hailed as a Friend to the Public Indeed, during the rereater respect and deference than any other toy,--Father Christmas only excepted,--and when he left at Christret expressed was both loud and sincere

CHAPTER V

”I airl ”He ood deal hurt And he must have felt very silly, too,”

she added