‘“What is the meaning of that hard word?” inquired a third circus man who was present. ‘“In the vulgar tongue, up the spout,” replied the defaulter. ‘“Then what made the box so heavy?” inquired his friend. ‘“A score of bricks,” suggested the third party. ‘“Wrong, cully,” said the Artful Dodger. “I couldn’t have smuggled bricks into the room without being observed; but a big screw went through the bottom of the box, and held it fast to the floor.” ‘Another of the stories I have alluded to relates to a man that used to look after an elephant in a circus, and put him through his performance. He got pretty deeply in debt—the man I mean—in a midland town where the circus had been staying some time, and his creditor, not being able to obtain payment, and finding that the company were about to remove to another town, determined to arrest him. ‘The cavalcade of horses, performing mules, camels, and other quadrupeds was just ready to start from the circus when the sheriff’s officer appeared on the scene, and tapped his man on the shoulder. He was recognized at a glance, and the man ran into the stables, with the sheriff’s officer after him. Running to the elephant, the debtor dived under its belly, and took up a safe position on the other side of the beast. The officer attempted a passage in the rear, but was cut off by a sudden movement of the elephant’s hind quarters. Then he screwed up his courage for a dive under the animal’s belly, but the beast turned its head, and fetched him a slap with its trunk. ‘“I’ll have you, if I wait here all day,” said he, as he drew back hastily. ‘“You had better not wait till I unfasten this chain,” says the elephant keeper, pretending to do what he threatened. ‘The officer growled, and went off to find the proprietor; but he didn’t succeed, and when he returned to the stables, his man was gone. That was as good a dodge as the lion-tamer’s, who, when the officers went to the circus to arrest him, took refuge in the cage containing the lions. They looked through the grating, and saw him in the midst of a group of lions and lionesses. They were philosophic enough to console themselves with the reflection that their man would come out when he wanted his dinner; but they had not waited long when the lions began to roar. ‘“The lions are getting hungry,” says the keeper. “If he lets them out of the cage, you will have to run.” ‘The officers exchanged frightened glances, and were out of the show in two minutes.