infully at the strap as if to
remind him that a scarlet ribbon ought to take its place, and poked
peanut shells about with his paw as if searching for the letters with
which to spell his famous name.

"I know, old boy, I know; but it can't be done. We've quit the
business and must just look on. No larks for us this time, Sanch, so
keep quiet and behave," whispered Ben, tucking the dog away under the
seat with a sympathetic cuddle of the curly head that 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 going to. Wouldn't it be fun to see Ben showing
off in there?"

"I'd be afraid to have him go up on a pile of elephants and jump
through hoops like these folks," answered Bab, poring over her
pictured play-bill with unabated relish.

"Done it a hundred times, and I'd just like to show you what I can
do. They don't seem to have any boys in this lot; shouldn't wonder if
they'd take me if I asked 'em," said Ben, moving uneasily on his seat
and casting wistful glances toward the inner tent where he knew he
would feel more at home than in his present place.

[Illustration: AT THE CIRCUS.]

"I heard some men say that it's against the law to have small boys
now; it's so dangerous and not good for them, this kind of thing. If
that's so, you're done for. 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 could go this minute and
get taken on, I'll bet. We are a valuable couple, and I could prove it
if I chose to," began Ben, getting excited and boastful.

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

Round and round they went till every one had seen their fill, then the
riders alone were left caracoling about the ring with feathers flying,
horses prancing, and performers looking as tired and indifferent as if
they 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 bare-back riding and the
'acrobatic exercises,'" said Ben, quoting from the play-bill, with the
air of one who knew all about the feats to come,