For you know that jungle beasts--even the largest of them--like to
play and have fun. You have seen kittens at play, and puppy dogs; and
little lions and tigers, as well as the smaller elephants, like to do
the same thing--have fun.
Umboo was standing on the bank of the river, having just been in for a
swim, when Batu, another elephant boy, came up to him.
"Do you want to have some fun?" asked Batu.
"Yes," answered Umboo. "What doing?"
"Do you see Keedah over there, scraping his toe nails on a big stone?"
asked Batu, for sometimes the toe nails of elephants grow too long and
too rough, and have to be worn down. Keedah was doing this to his.
"Yes, I see him," answered Umboo. "What about him?"
"This," answered Batu, with a chuckling laugh that made him shake all
over, for he was quite fat. "We will go up to him, as he stands with
his back to the water, and while I am talking to him, and asking if
his toe nails hurt, you can give him a push and knock him into the
river."
"Oh, yes, we'll do that. It will be fun!" laughed Umboo.
For he knew that it would not hurt Keedah to splash into the water,
and the elephant boys and girls used often to play that trick on one
another, just as you children, perhaps, do at the seashore.
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