Not only was he disowned by his wife and children, but he could not tell how he should ever earn enough to keep him alive, with the frightful appetite which he now possessed.

'I don't know,' he thought, 'but the best way is to drown myself at once.' So he walked to the river, but found it was not deep enough to drown him.
"As he emerged from the river uncomfortably wet, he saw a man timidly approaching him.

It proved to be the manager of the show.
"'Hello!' said he hesitatingly.
"'Hello!' returned Tubbs disconsolately.
"'Would you like to enter into a business engagement with me ?' "'Of what sort ?' asked Tubbs, brightening up.
"'To be exhibited,' was the reply.

'You're the largest man living in the world.

We could make a pretty penny together.' "Tubbs was glad enough to accept this proposition, which came to him like a plank to a drowning man.