noon
The elephants would n't come out of the creek , so the boss canvasman went over to where there were about 500 cowboys and Indians on horseback , and asked them to ride into the creek and drive the elephants out where the rest of the animals were , on the prairie . Gee , but that was the greatest mistake he could have made . The men on horseback did n't want any better fun , so they made a charge , in line of battle , just like Sheridan 's cavalry , down the bank , into the creek , yelling and waving lariat ropes , and snapping whips and the elephants got out of that creek in a hurry . The cowboys threw lassoes over the hind feet of the elephants , and tried to hold them , and the elephants bellowed , and dragged the cowboys and their ponies right amongst the other animals , and in about a minute , as the boss canvasman said when he came to , and they were picking the cactus thorns out of him : `` Hell was just plumb out for noon . '' The buffaloes smelled the Indians , and they started to stampede , like they used to do when they lived on the plains , and all the animals followed , dragging the men who had hold of their ropes , and away we all went over a rise of ground , the zebras in the lead and the elephants fetching up the rear , the cowboys and Indians behind , yelling and ki-i-ing , and more than 500 Indian dogs barking . Well , pa was the foolishest man in the lot , 'cause he had tied the lariat rope that he held his elk by , around his belt , and when the elk went over the hill pa was only hitting the high places , and he was yelling for me to head off his elk . But I was busy trying to keep up with my antelope , which was scared worse than any animal in the race .