n to a dim and distant part of the barn.

"Is he going after your Elephant?" asked Elsie.

"I hope so," her brother answered. "We'll follow him and see where he
goes."

But Nip ran too fast for the children to follow. Down the stairs, into
the dark corner of that part of the barn where the garden tools were
kept, ran Nip. He knew he had been found out, and that he must bring
back Archie's Elephant.

So, just as the Shovel, the Rake and the Pick had hurried away to look
for the prize, and while the Wheelbarrow, the Hoe and the Lawn Mower
were fussing to see why they couldn't have a chance to win, Nip pounced
down on the Elephant, lifted him up, and started back with him to
Archie.

"Oh, I'm so glad you came to get me!" said the Elephant. "I was just
going to try to find my way back myself, for I have had a most dreadful
time trying to settle a dispute among the garden tools. Oh, I never
should like to be a Judge!"

Nip did not answer, because he had the Stuffed Elephant in his mouth.

"I hope we are going to be friends, Mr. Nip," went on the Elephant.
"Please don't carry me away again."

Nip wanted to say that he would not, for he felt sorry because of the
trick he had played. But just then Elsie and Archie came running up, and
the dog could not talk, nor could the Elephant pretend to be alive, for
the eyes of the children were upon them.

"Oh, he has my Elephant!" joyfully cried Archie. "I guess you must have
hidden him, Nip, for you knew where to find him! Bring my Elephant
here!"

Nip put the Elephant down on the barn floor at Archie's feet, and then
the dog wagged his tail.

"He's asking you to forgive him," said Elsie.

"And I will," promised Archie. "But don't do it again!" he added,
shaking his finger at Nip.

"Bow wow!" barked the dog, and perhaps that meant he would not.

"Oh, I'm so glad to have my Elephant back!" said Archie, as he began
playing with his toy.

"And I'm glad to be back," thought the Elephant. "That Judge business
was a great trial!"

Through the spring and into the summer Archie had fun with his Christmas
Elephant. Then one day something very exciting happened. Archie was
playing out in the back yard, near a little brook, with his Elephant,
when along the front road came a hand-organ man and a monkey. Archie and
his sister ran to hear the music and see the monkey, and Archie left his
Elephant in the grass.

Soon after this it began to rain very hard and the children hurri