epeat, if Bill Stacey will be quiet.

* * * * *

(_The old_ ELEPHANT _speaks for himself at last_.)

True, my dear children, I have often promised to relate to you as much
as I can remember of my long life and experience, and as my increasing
bodily infirmities warn me that my days are drawing to a close, I
cannot do better than embrace this opportunity when we are not likely
to be interrupted by our companions.

I am now going to put you in possession of a secret, which I should be
very unwilling to make public. It is universally believed by our
company, that I have spent many years in the service of man, and that
at this period of my life, I acquired that knowledge of his ways which
has been so useful in enabling me to detect and avoid his wicked
devices for the destruction of our noble race. To this belief I am
indebted for the influence I possess in our councils, and though my
years and experience might still be respected, I am certain, that the
ungrateful herd, ever fond of change, would immediately choose a new
leader, if they had the least suspicion of what I am going to
communicate to you.

Know, then, my children, that I have never been a slave to the tyrant!
that I have never been that most abject of creatures, "_a tame
elephant_." No! my last days are not embittered by the consideration,
that I have ever in the smallest degree contributed to the happiness of
the two-legged monster. On the contrary, I am cheered by the
recollection, that a great part of my life has been spent in detecting
his tricks, and in thwarting his wicked designs. If our laws did not
forbid us to take the life of any creature except in self-defence, with
my knowledge of our enemies' weakness, we might easily take such
terrible vengeance, as would induce him at least to confine himself to
the neighbourhood of his own towns and settlements. But he cannot do us
much injury. So successful have I been in detecting his ridiculous
traps and pit-falls, that, for the last fifty years, not one of our
herd has fallen a victim to his vile designs, except the poor young
creature who threw his life away a few days ago, when, foolishly
confident in his own knowledge, he persisted in rambling about by
himself. Even in this melancholy affair, we may comfort ourselves that
we could better spare him than any other of his companions, and that
our enemies have gained little or nothing by his capture.

But you w