Ben felt that now "his foot was on his nativeheath," and the superb air of indifference with whichhe threw down his dollar at the ticket-office, carelesslyswept up the change, and strolled into the tentwith his hands in his pockets, was so impressive thateven big Sam repressed his excitement and meeklyfollowed their leader, as he led them from cage tocage, doing the honors as if he owned the whole concern.

 

　　Bab held tight to the flap of his jacket, staringabout her with round eyes, and listening withlittle gasps of astonishment or delight to the roaringof lions, the snarling of tigers, the chatter of themonkeys, the groaning of camels, and the music ofthe very brass band shut up in a red bin.

 

　　Five elephants were tossing their hay about in themiddle of the menagerie, and Billy's legs shook underhim as he looked up at the big beasts whose longnoses and small, sagacious eyes filled him with awe.

 

　　Sam was so tickled by the droll monkeys that theothers left him before the cage and went on to seethe zebra, "striped just like Ma's muslin gown," Babdeclared. But the next minute she forgot all abouthim in her raptures over the ponies and their tinycolts; especially one mite of a thing who lay asleepon the hay, such a miniature copy of its little mouse-coloredmamma that one could hardly believe it was alive.

 

　　"Oh, Ben, I must feel of it! -- the cunning babyhorse!" and down went Bab inside the rope to patand admire the pretty creature, while its mothersmelt suspiciously at the brown hat, and baby lazilyopened one eye to see what was going on.

 

　　"Come out of that, it isn't allowed" commandedBen, longing to do the same thing, but mindful of theproprieties and his own dignity.

 

　　Bab reluctantly tore herself away to find consolationin watching the young lions, who looked so likebig puppies, and the tigers washing their faces justas puss did.

 

　　"If I stroked 'em, wouldn't they purr?" sheasked, bent on enjoying herself, while Ben held herskirts lest she should try the experiment.

 

　　"You'd better not go to patting them, or you'llget your hands clawed up. Tigers do purr like funwhen they are happy, but these fellers never are, andyou'll only see 'em spit and snarl," said Ben, leadingthe way to the humpy carrels, who were peacefullychewing their cud and longing for the desert,with a dreamy, far-away look in their mournful eyes.

 

　　Here, leaning on the rope, and scientifically bitinga straw while he talked, Ben played showman to hisheart's content till the neigh of a horse from thecircus tent beyond reminded him of the joys to come.

 

　　"We'd better hurry along and get good seats beforefolks begin to crowd. I want to sit near the curtainand see if any of Smitthers's lot are 'round.""I ain't going way off there; you can't see half sowell, and that big drum makes such a noise you can'thear yourself think," said Sam, who had rejoinedthem.

 

　　So they settled in good places where they couldsee and hear all that went on in the ring and stillcatch glimpses of white horses, bright colors, and theglitter of helmets beyond the dingy red curtains. Bentreated Bab to peanuts and pop-corn like an indulgentparent, and she murmured protestations of undyinggratitude with her mouth full, as she sat blissfullybetween him and the congenial Billy.

 

　　Sancho, meantime, had been much excited by thefamiliar sights and sounds, and now was greatly exercisedin his doggish mind at the unusual proceedingof his master; for he was sure that they ought to bewithin there, putting on their costumes, ready to taketheir turn. He looked anxiously at Ben, sniffeddisdainfully at the strap as if to remind him that ascarlet ribbon ought to take its place, and poked peanutshells about with his paw as if searching for the letterswith which to spell his famous name.

 

　　"I know, old boy, I know; but it can't be done.

 

　　We've quit the busin'ess and must just look on. Nolarks for us this time, Sanch, so keep quiet and behave,'

 

　　whispered Ben, tucking the dog away underthe seat with a sympathetic cuddle of the curly headthat peeped out from between his feet.

 

　　"He wants to go and cut up, don't he?" said Billy,"and so do you, I guess. Wish you were goingto. Wouldn't it be fun to see Ben showing off inthere?""I'd be afraid to have him go up on a pile of elephantsand jump through hoops like these folks," answeredBab, poring over her pictured play-bill withunabated relish.

 

　　"Done it a hundred times, and I'd just like toshow you what I can do. They don't seem to haveany boys in this lot; shouldn't wonder if they'd takeme if I asked 'em," said Ben, moving uneasily on hisseat and casting wistful glances toward the inner tentwhere he knew he would feel more at home than inhis present place.

 

　　"I heard some men say that it's against the law tohave small boys now; it's so dangerous and not goodfor them, this kind of thing. If that's so, you're donefor, Ben," observed Sam, with his most grown-up air,remembering Ben's remarks on "fat boys.""Don't believe a word of it, and Sanch and I couldgo this minute and get taken on, I'll bet. We are avaluable couple, and I could prove it if I chose to,"began Ben, getting excited and boastful.

 

　　"Oh, see, they're coming! -- gold carriages andlovely horses, and flags and elephants, and everything, cried Bab, giving a clutch at Ben's arm asthe opening procession appeared headed by the band,tooting and banging till their faces were as red astheir uniforms.

 

　　Round and round they went till every one had seentheir fill, then the riders alone were left caracolingabout the ring with feathers flying, horses prancing,and performers looking as tired and indifferent as ifthey would all like to go to sleep then and there.

 

　　"How splendid!" sighed Bab, as they went dashing out,to tumble off almost before the horses stopped.

 

　　"That's nothing! You wait till you see the barebackriding and the 'acrobatic exercises,' " said Ben,quoting from the play-bill, with the air of one whoknew all about the feats to come, and could never besurprised any more.

 

　　"What are 'crowbackic exercises'?" asked Billy,thirsting for information.

 

　　"Leaping and climbing and tumbling; you'll seeGeorge! what a stunning horse!" and Ben forgotevery thing else to feast his eyes on the handsomecreature who now came pacing in to dance, upsetand replace chairs, kneel, bow, and perform manywonderful or graceful feats, ending with a swift gallopwhile the rider sat in a chair on its back fanninghimself, with his legs crossed, as comfortably as youplease.

 

　　"That, now, is something like," and Ben's eyes shonewith admiration and envy as the pair vanished, and thepink and silver acrobats came leaping into the ring.

 

　　The boys were especially interested in this part,and well they might be; for strength and agility aremanly attributes which lads appreciate, and theselively fellows flew about like India-rubber balls, eachtrying to outdo the other, till the leader of the acrobatscapped the climax by turning a double somersaultover five elephants standing side by side.

 

　　"There, Sir, how's that for a jump?" asked Ben,rubbing his hands with satisfaction as his friendsclapped till their palms tingled.

 

　　"We'll rig up a spring-board and try it," saidBilly, fired with emulation.

 

　　"Where'll you get your elephants?" asked Sam,scornfully. for gymnastics were not in his line.

 

　　"You'll do for one," retorted Ben, and Billy andBab joined in his laugh so heartily that a rough-looking, man who sat behind them, hearing all theysaid, pronounced them a "jolly set," and kept his eyeon Sancho, who now showed signs of insubordination.

 

　　"Hullo, that wasn't on the bill!" cried Ben, as aparti-colored clown came in, followed by half a dozendogs.

 

　　"I'm so glad; now Sancho will like it. There's apoodle that might be his ownty donty brother -- theone with the blue ribbon," said Bab. beaming with delightas the dogs took their seats in the chairs arrangedfor them.

 

　　Sancho did like it only too well, for be scrambledout from under the seat in a great hurry to go andgreet his friends; and, being sharply checked, sat upand begged so piteously that Ben found it very hardto refuse and order him down. He subsided for amoment, but when the black spaniel, who acted thecanine clown, did something funny and was applauded,Sancho made a dart as if bent on leaping into thering to outdo his rival, and Ben was forced to boxhis ears and put his feet on the poor beast, fearing hewould be ordered out if he made any disturbance.

 

　　Too well trained to rebel again, Sancho lay meditatingon his wrongs till the dog act was over, carefullyabstaining from any further sign of interest intheir tricks, and only giving a sidelong g;ance at thetwo little poodles who came out of a basket to runup and down stairs on their fore-paws, dance jigs ontheir hind-legs, and play various pretty pranks to thegreat delight of all the children in the audience. Ifever a dog expressed by look and attitude, "Pooh!

 

　　I could fo much better than that, and astonish youall, if I were only allowed to," that dog was Sancho,as he curled himself up and affected to turn his backon an unappreciative world.

 

　　"It's too bad, when he knows motr than all thosechaps put together. I'd give any thing if I couldshow him off as I used to. Folks always like it, andI was ever so proud of him. He's mad now becauseI had to cuff him, and won't take any notice of metill I make up," said Ben, regretfully eying his offendedfriend, but not daring to beg pardon yet.

 

　　More riding followed, and Bab was kept in a breathlessstate by the marvellous agility and skill of thegauzy lady who drove four horses at once, leapedthrough hoops, over banners and bars, sprang off andon at full speed, and seemed to enjoy it all so muchit was impossible to believe that there could be anydanger or exertion in it. Then two girls flew abouton the trapeze, and walked on a tight rope, causingBab to feel that she had at last found her sphere; for,young as she was, her mother often said,"I really don't know what this child is fit for, exceptmischief, like a monkey.""I'll fix the clothes-line when I get home, andshow Ma how nice it is. Then, may be, she'd let mewear red and gold trousers, and climb round likethese girls," thought the busy little brain, much excitedby all it saw on that memorable day.

 

　　Nothing short of a pyramid of elephants with aglittering gentleman in a turban and top boots on thesummit would have made her forget this new andcharming plan. But that astonishing spectacle, andthe prospect of a cage of Bengal tigers with a manamong them, in immenent danger of being eatenbefore her eyes, entirely absorbed her thoughts till,just as the big animals went lumbering out, a peal ofthunder caused considerable commotion in the audience.

 

　　Men on the highest seats popped their headsthrough the openings in the tent-cover and reportedthat a heavy shower was coming up. Anxious mothersbegan to collect their flocks of children as hens dotheir chickens at sunset; timid people told cheerfulstories of tents blown over in gales, cages upset andwild beasts let loose. Many left in haste, and theperformers hurried to finish as soon as possible.

 

　　"I'm going now before the crowd comes, so I canget a lift home. I see two or three folks I know, soI'm off;" and, climbing hastily down, Sam vanishedwithout further ceremony.

 

　　"Better wait till the shower is over. We can goand see the animals again, and get home all dry, justas well as not," observed Ben, encouraginly, as Billylooked anxiously at the billowing canvas over hishead, the swaying posts before him, and heard thequick patter of drops outside, not to mention themelancholy roar of the lion which sounded rather awfulthrough the sudden gloom which filled the strangeplace.

 

　　"I wouldn't miss the tigers for any thing. See,they are pulling in the cart now, and the shiny manis all ready with his gun. Will he shoot any of them,apprehension, for the sharp crack of a rifle startled hermore than the loudest thunder-clap she ever heard.

 

　　"Bless you, no, child; it 's only powder to makea noise and scare 'em. I wouldn't like to be in hisplace, though; father says you can never trust tiglersas you can lions, no matter how tame they are. Slyfellers, like cats, and when they scratch it's no joke,I tell you," answered Ben, with a knowing wag of thehead, as the sides of the cage rattled down, and thepoor, fierce creatures were seen leaping and snarlingas if they resented this display of their captivity.

 

　　Bab curled up her feet and winked fast with excitementas she watched the "shiny man" fondle thegreat cats, lie down among them, pull open their redmouths, and make them leap over him or crouch athis feet as be snapped the long whip. When he firedthe gun and they all fell as if dead, she with difficultysuppressed a small scream and clapped her handsover her ears; but poor Billy never minded it a bit,for he was pale and quaking with the fear of "heaven'sartillery" thundering overhead, and as a brighht flashof lightning seemed to run down the tall tent-poles hehid his eyes and wished with all his heart that he wassafe with mother.

 

　　"Afraid of thunder, Bill?" asked Ben, trying tospeak stoutly, while a sense of his own responsibilitiesbegan to worry him, for how was Bab to be got homein such a pouring rain?

 

　　"It makes me sick; always did. Wish I hadn'tcome," sighed Billy, feeling, all too late, that lemonadeand "lozengers" were not the fittest food for man, ora stifling tent the best place to be in on a hot Julyday, especially in a thunder-storm.

 

　　"I didn't ask you to come; you asked me; so itisn't my fault," said Ben, rather gruffly, as peoplecrowded by without pausing to hear the comic songthe clown was singing in spite of the confusion.

 

　　"Oh, I'm so tired," groaned Bab, getting up witha long stretch of arms and legs.

 

　　"You'll be tireder before you get home, I guess.

 

　　Nobody asked you to Come, any way;" and Bengazed dolefully round him, wishing he could see afamiliar face or find a wiser head than his own to helphim out of the scrape he was in.

 

　　"I said I wouldn't be a bother, and I won't. I'llwalk right home this minute. I ain't afraid of thunder,and the rain won't hurt these old clothes. Comealong," cried Bab, bravely, bent on keeping her word,though it looked much harder after the fun was allover than before.

 

　　"My head aches like fury. Don't I wish old Jackwas here to take me back," said Billy, following hiscompanions in misfortune with sudden energy, as alouder peal than before rolled overhead.

 

　　"You might as well wish for Lita and the coveredwagon while you are about it, then we could all ride,"answered Ben, leading the way to the outer tent, wheremany people were lingering in hopes of fair weather.

 

　　"Why, Billy Barton, how in the world did you gethere? " cried a surprised voice as the crook of a canecaught the boy by the collar and jerkcd him face toface with a young farmer, who was pushing along,followed by his, wife and two ............