his own responsibilities began to worry him, for how was Bab
to be got home in such a pouring rain.

"It makes me sick; always did. Wish I hadn't come," sighed Billy,
feeling, all too late, that lemonade and "lozengers" were not the
fittest food for man, or a stifling tent the best place to be in on a
hot July day, especially in a thunder-storm.

"I didn't ask you to come; _you_ asked _me_; so it isn't my fault,"
said Ben, rather gruffly, as people crowded by without pausing to hear
the comic song the clown was singing in spite of the confusion.

"Oh, I'm _so_ tired," groaned Bab, getting up with a long stretch of
arms and legs.

"You'll be tireder before you get home, I guess. Nobody asked _you_ to
come, anyway;" and Ben gazed dolefully round him wishing he could see
a familiar face or find a wiser head than his own to help him out of
the scrape he was in.

"I said I wouldn't be a bother, and I wont. I'll walk right home this
minute, I aint afraid of thunder, and the rain wont hurt these old
clothes. Come along," cried Bab, bravely, bent on keeping her word,
though it looked much harder after the fun was all over than before.

"My head aches like fury. Don't I wish old Jack was here to take me
back," said Billy, following his companions in misfortune with sudden
energy, as a louder peal than before rolled overhead.

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

"Why, Billy Barton, how in the world did you get here?" cried a
surprised voice, as the crook of a cane caught the boy by the collar
and jerked him face to face with a young farmer, who was pushing along
followed by his wife and two or three children.

"Oh, Uncle Eben, I'm so glad you found me! I walked over, and it's
raining, and I don't feel well. Let me go with you, can't I?" asked
Billy, casting himself and all his woes upon the strong arm that had
laid hold of him.

"Don't see what your mother was about to let you come so far alone,
and you just over scarlet fever. We are as full as ever we can be, but
we'll tuck you in somehow," said the pleasant-faced woman, bundling up
her baby, and bidding the two little lads "keep close to father."

"I didn't come alone. Sam got a ride, and can't you tuck Ben and Bab
in too? They aint very big, either of them," whispered Billy, anxious
to se