ss some of the animals are loose," said Joe, "though it doesn't
seem to be serious."

More shouts, mingled with laughter, seemed to testify to this view of
it.

"I'm going out to see what it is," decided Joe. He looked off toward
the east. A faint glow there told that dawn was beginning to break,
though it was still very dark. "I've had enough sleep," Joe reasoned,
"and I can't get any more with all that racket going on under my car
window."

He quickly dressed and went out, he alone of those in his car caring to
see what the trouble was. The rest of the circus men preferred to turn
over for a possible "forty winks" more.

As Joe was making his way toward the place where he could see a crowd
of men about some central object, he heard a voice calling to him from
one of the windows of the sleeping car occupied by the women of the
circus troupe.

"What has happened?" some one asked. "Is it a wreck?"

"No, nothing as bad as that, I guess, Helen," Joe replied, recognizing
the tones of the pretty trick rider. "Some of the animals seem to be
out. I'm going to see."

"Come back and tell me about it. I hope it isn't one of the cats."

"So do I," Joe said. "But I don't believe it is. I'll let you know."

Circus folk and animal men in general speak of lions, tigers and other
beasts of the feline tribe as "cats," and elephants, camels, horses and
their like are known in show parlance as "hay animals," because hay is
their principal fodder.

Joe hurried on to the crowd gathered about one of the flat cars.

"Look out! He's loose again!" came the yell, and Joe saw the crowd
part, and a big ungainly animal come charging through.

"It's the hippopotamus!" cried Joe. "The big brute is loose!"

The big animal, the "blood-sweating behemoth of Holy Writ," as it is
sometimes called on the circus bills, was out of his tank wagon, and
seemed to enjoy his liberty.

"Look out there!" some one in the crowd yelled to Joe. "If he stamps on
you there won't be anything left of you."

"I guess that'll be true enough," thought Joe. For the hippopotamus
weighed nearly two tons, being one of the largest specimens in
captivity.

On came the big beast, now and then opening its huge mouth, as Joe
could see in the light that was beginning to break. Some of the crowd
of men came rushing after the hippopotamus with ropes, but the animal
moved faster than one would suppose a creature of his bulk could
travel.

"Stop him! Stop him, somebod