"Why?"
"For two reasons. Keeper tells me he can't make a sound.
Doesn't bray, nor whinny, nor growl, nor bark, nor--
can't do anything. I'd rather be a lion or a tiger or
something like that. If I couldn't do anything else, then,
I could stand off and growl at folks."
Phil nodded and smiled.
"And what's your other reason for being glad you are not
a giraffe?"
"Because--because--because when you had a sore throat think what
a lot of neck you'd have to gargle!"
Phil laughed outright, and as the giraffe lowered its head and
peered down into their faces, he thought, for the moment, that he
could see the animal grin.
After this they continued on to the dressing tent, where they
remained until time for the evening performance. This passed off
without incident, Teddy and his mule doing nothing more
sensational than kicking a rent in the ringmaster's coat.
After the show was over, and the tents had begun to come down,
Phil announced his intention of going downtown for a lunch.
"This fresh air makes me hungry. You see, I am not used to it
yet," he explained in an apologetic tone.
"You do not have to go down for a lunch, unless you want to,"
the bandmaster informed him.
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