Bout de Zan Steals an Elephant

Bout de Zan is a very precocious young man! When the circus comes to town, he does what any kid might do in this situation--he steals the circus' elephant!!! Later, he sits on the curb with the elephant and begs coins off people--with a sign saying 'blind since birth'. I am not sure if this is supposed to mean the kid or the animal!