How do you like circus life?"

"I haven't tried it well enough to tell. This is only my second day."

"I went into it at fourteen. I've been an acrobat, too, but I have a
weak ankle, and have gone into the ticket department."

"Are you going to remain in the circus permanently?"

"No, I'm trying to wean myself from it. A friend has promised to set me
up in business whenever I get ready to retire. If I kept on, I would be
no better off at forty than I am now."

"Yet circus people make a good deal of money, I hear."

"Right you are, my boy, but they don't keep it. They get spoiled for
anything else, and soon or later they are left out in the cold. I've had
a good deal of fun out of it, for I like traveling, but I'm going to
give it up."

"I took it up because I had nothing else to do, but I shan't stay in it
long. I'll tell you about it some day. I hear you drive one of the pony
chariots."

"Yes."

"I am to drive the other."

"Good! Don't let them run away with you, my boy."

"I'll try not to," said Kit, smiling. "Is there any danger?"

"Not much. They're trained. Are you fond of horses?"

"I like nothing better."

"So it is with me. I'll wait till you are through breakfast, and then
we'll go over together."

Half an hour later Kit sat on the box of a chariot, drawn by two
beautiful ponies. The circus line had been formed, and the parade began.
Behind him was a circus wagon, or rather a cage on wheels, through the
gratings of which could be seen a tiger, crafty and cruel looking. In
front was an elephant, with two or three performers on his back. Kit was
dressed in street costume, his circus dress not being required.

In another part of the procession was Charlie Davis, driving a
corresponding wagon.

Kit felt a peculiar exhilaration as he drove his ponies, and reflected
upon the strangeness of his position, as compared with his previous
experiences. He had from time to time watched circus processions, but
not in his wildest and most improbable dreams had it ever occurred to
him to imagine that he would ever himself take part in one. As he looked
down from his perch he saw the streets lined with the usual curious
crowd of spectators, among whom boys were largely represented.

"I suppose some of them are envying me," he thought to himself, with a
smile. "Suppose there was some one who recognized me?"

No sooner had the thought come into his mind, than he heard his own name
called in a voice indicat