your friend would have gone into professional bicycle
racing."

"We did try to," confessed the trainer with a grin, "but we could never
seem to do as well again, and after a few attempts we gave it up in
disgust. But we found the prize money very welcome, for we were both
hard up at the time.

"But now," he continued, "I've kept you up too late as it is, so off
with you. Vamoose!"

CHAPTER VII

THE LION'S ESCAPE

"FELLOWS, I've got an inspiration," said Dick one evening when several
of his companions, including Tom and Bert, had gathered in the latter's
room.

"Well, well," said Bert, "old Dick's got an inspiration, boys. I wonder
what it is? The last time Dick had an inspiration, that one about taking
a cow up onto the roof of the recitation hall, we all pretty nearly got
into trouble, including the cow. I think any other inspiration from the
same source will have to come with first-class references and a letter
of introduction. Otherwise I, for one, refuse to recognize it at all."

"If you're quite through," said Dick, with elaborate politeness,
"perhaps you'd be so kind as to let me get in a word edgewise, and
enlighten an expectant world regarding this inspiration. Just because
the cow fell down a flight of steps that time and made everybody think
there was an earthquake in progress doesn't prove that it wasn't a good
idea. Accidents will often spoil the best laid plans."

"I notice something almost always does happen to plans of that kind,"
laughed Bert. "But go ahead and tell us your scheme. What is it?
Kidnapping the dean, or just burning down one or two of the buildings."

"Well, that wasn't what was in my mind," confessed Dick. "But now that
you speak of it, either one might be worth trying. But the particular
idea simmering in my massive intellect at the time I was so rudely
interrupted by a certain low character, was this: There's going to be a
circus in town to-morrow, and I for one feel a whole lot like going to
see it. I haven't been to a circus for the last five years and I'm just
honing to see this one."

"That's an inspiration as how _is_ an inspiration," said Tom; "it's
funny how really first-class ideas originate in unbalanced minds at
times. Dick comes out real strong once in a while."

"Thanks for your valued approval," said Dick sarcastically; "how do the
rest of you fellows feel about it? Want to go?"

There was a general chorus of assent, and Dick gravely declared the
pro