Page:Jungle Joe, pride of the circus; the story of a trick elephant (IA junglejoeprideof00hawk).pdf/207

 to hardship and danger. Self-preservation was strong in him, just as it is in all people who live near to nature. In that respect they are always like the wild animals.

So Ali scrambled like a cat up the inclined floor of the car and felt for the hasp that fastened the door on the inside. With a jerk he pulled out the toggle that held it, and then with all his strength began to slide back the great door.

If he had opened the flood-gates of heaven the results would not have been worse. As Ali felt the waters surge in upon him, to overwhelm him, like the good swimmer that he was he took in a deep breath to fill his lungs to their capacity. Then he pushed again upon the door, and in another second he was outside in the open river.