he good times
ahead. Farm after farm was passed, until they were almost in sight of
Valley Brook.

"What a beautiful stretch of country," observed Fred, as he gazed
around. "I don't wonder that your uncle settled here while your father
was in Africa."

"We used to hate the farm, Tom especially. We thought it was too dead
slow for anything. But now we love to come back to it, after being at
school or somewhere else."

They were just passing the farm next to that of the Rovers when a man
came driving up to them at a rapid gait. He was seated on a buckboard
and had behind him a box filled with showbills.

"Visit the circus day after to-morrow! Biggest show on earth for a
quarter!" he shouted, and flung a couple of bills at them.

"A circus!" began Fred, when, without warning, Chips made a wild leap
that nearly threw him and Sam into the road. Scared by the sight of the
showbills the horse made a plunge and then began to run away.

"Whoa, Chips, whoa!" sang out Sam.

"Don't--don't let him get away, Sam!" came from Fred, as he gripped the
side of the carriage.

"He shan't get away if I can help it," was the answer, from between
Sam's shut teeth. "Whoa, Chips, whoa!" he went on.

But Chips wouldn't whoa, and the sight of another white handbill in
the middle of the road caused him to shy to one side. Both boys were
unseated, and Sam would have gone to the ground had not Fred held him
fast.

"Whoa!" yelled Sam, and now he pulled in tighter than ever on the
reins. But on and on went the bay steed, straight through the lane
leading to the Rovers' barn.

"He'll smash us up!" gasped Fred.

"Hi! hi!" came from the barnyard and then Dick Rover came into view.
His quick eye took in the situation in an instant and he made a grand
dash to reach Chips' head. He was successful, and in spite of the
steed's efforts to throw him off, held on until at last the bay was
brought to a standstill, trembling in every limb and covered with foam.

"How did this happen, Samuel?" asked his uncle, as he too came forward.

"A fellow with circus bills scared him," answered Sam, and he added:
"I'd just like to catch that fellow and give him a piece of my mind!"

"And so would I," added Fred.

"Are either of you hurt?"

"No."

"Let us be thankful for that," said Mr. Rover; and then had the horse
taken to the stable by Jack Ness.

CHAPTER XIV

FUN AT THE SHOW

As soon as the family were assembled and Fred had been greeted