And, at this, the several animals who had had their heads together with Hippo all jumped to their feet and began to chant: “Dan, Dan, Diggeldy Dan, Dan, Dan, Diggeldy Dan!” “Why, of course,” agreed all the rest. “Who else but Diggeldy Dan!” “I’ll furnish a quill for the pen,” said Ostrich. “I know where there’s an old circus poster with nothing at all on the back,” cried Elephant, as he made off toward the end of the tent. “I’ll offer myself for a table,” volunteered Hippo. “And I’ll supply the ink,” said Dan, diving into one of his funny deep pockets and drawing forth a top, some chalk, three marbles, and—last of all—a bottle of very red ink. And so, almost before one might have said Jack Robinson, there sat Diggeldy Dan astride Hippo’s back with the poster that Elephant had brought spread out before him, the quill that Ostrich had furnished grasped firmly in his hand, writing away for all he was worth, while all the animals crowded around, all talking at once and each trying to remember just exactly what Tiger had said when he had nominated Lion and just what Lion had said when he spoke in reply. Of course, all this took some little time and, indeed, Dan concluded the first chapter of the interesting document with one eye to his work and the other on the Petal Watch. And, just as he had crossed the very last “t” and dotted the very last “i” the great white flower began to close. At the first sign of it, away scampered all the animals to their cages and corrals while Dan, with the aid of Monkey, having locked all the doors and fastened each chain, scurried off to make ready for the circus, folding the precious poster and tucking it away with the Petal Watch as he ran. “To-morrow at half-past twilight,” he cried in farewell. “To-morrow,” answered Lion, from the depths of his cage, while from all parts of the tent came the voices that echoed—“To-morrow—to-morrow—to-morrow.” CHAPTER V IN WHICH GIRAFFE GIVES A CHALK-TALK AND THE ANIMALS LEARN A NEW GAME Now when the fourth day had turned to twilight and the animals of Spangleland had gathered to continue the meeting that had resulted in the election of Lion as President of Animals and Diggeldy Dan as Secretary, Zebra announced that he had a matter of much importance to bring to their attention.