," observed Giant, when
he heard of this. "I could do almost as good as that with my
eyes shut."

In a quiet way word was passed around to the juvenile element
of Fairview that there would be "something doing" at the public
square directly it was dark. Secretly a notice was posted up
that the "Swimmer Company would give a free exhibition of Carlham
fireworks." Several wanted to know who the Swimmer Company were
and what Carlham fireworks were like, but no answer could be had
to these queries.

At exactly half-past seven that evening there was the flare of a
rocket in the public square, followed by the discharge of several
Roman candles. Folks came running from all directions, to learn who
might be giving the exhibition.

They saw a truly marvelous sight. Four men or boys were there,
dressed in fantastic suits and wearing old gloves and big, pointed-top
hats. Each had a mask over his face, so that it was utterly impossible
to tell who he was.

Boom! bang! sizz! went the fireworks, being set off by all four of
the persons at once. Rockets flew high in the sky, leaving a
golden train behind them, and Roman candles let out balls of
various colors, while on the ground, flower pots spouted forth in
great beauty, and pin-wheels whizzed from several trees and
hitching-posts.

"This is great!" cried several.

"A bang-up exhibition," added another. "Never saw a finer display,
did you?" put in an old man. "And all free too!" he continued,
greatly pleased.

Carl and Ham could not resist the temptation to see what was going
on and came running to the square, leaving their box in the barn.
They were full of envy, but went through the crowd boasting that
their own display would be much better.

At last everything was set off but three large rockets. These
were left in charge of one of the masked figures while the other
three figures suddenly disappeared in the darkness following a
pinwheel flare. The three figures took with them what could be
found of the burnt-out Roman candles and other things.

With one grand sizz the three rockets went up into the air
simultaneously. The crowd gazed in admiration at the sight. Then
as the sky grew dark, they looked out on the square for the last of
the masked figures.

It had disappeared.

CHAPTER VI

PREPARING FOR THE GRAND OUTING

Less than quarter of an hour after the celebration at the public
square Snap and his three chums met at Whopper's back gate.