The Elephant Wounded

Alas! for he so bravely fought, Poor Jumbo wounded lay; The ambulance they quickly brought To where he fell that day.

"To Hospital this instant!" cried The Surgeon in command; "Don't let them say he would have died If we'd not been at hand!"

"But, wait," he said, "till I with care Have quite examined him!" He probed him here, and probed him there, And tested every limb.

"It's but a nervous shock!" he said, "Since he's so large and fat; You can't take him, and so, instead, You'd better take his hat!"

Ere dusk the King's troops had retreated, By Tiger's Rebel band defeated; They ran pell-mell and helter-skelter, For any place to give them shelter.

The Elephant, though he was wounded, Ran faster than the big Baboon did; The Owl to Camp flew like a bird To tell the King what had occurred.