d, each taking a favorite attitude while indulging in
animated discussions concerning what might await them far to the north.

It was while the troop was taking things in this easy manner that Jud
Elderkin suddenly jumped to his feet.

"Look what's coming, fellows!" he exclaimed, and everybody of course
sprang up.

CHAPTER XI

THE COMING OF THE CIRCUS CARAVAN

"Hey!" cried Bobolink, as he rubbed his eyes, "wake me up, somebody,
won't you? I've got the nightmare, sure; I'm seein' things I hadn't
ought to."

"Gee whiz! it's sure an elephant, fellows!" ejaculated Joe Clausin.

"And what's that coming along behind the same? Get on to his curves,
would you, boys? We're the gay defenders of Lucknow, for as sure as you
live the camels are coming, heigho, heigho!" sang William, striking an
attitude.

"It's the circus that was billed to show in Stanhope this very day,"
declared Jack, with sudden conviction.

"That's what it is!" echoed Jud, with a grin; "heard they gave a turn
over at Warren last night. Say, I bet they've been on the tramp the rest
of the night, and the way that old elephant moves along proves it."

"They do look tired for a fact," admitted Paul; "I wonder if our horse
will get gay when the animals pass so close. Most horses are just crazy
with fear when they smell a tiger or a lion near by."

"Huh! I'd just like to see some spirit in old Dobbin," laughed Philip
Towns. "He's a plugger at best, and I expect we'll have to help him up
many a hill with that big load. There come the people of the show, and
three cages of beasts. My! but don't they all look like they'd been
drawn through a knot-hole, though?"

The night march had indeed fagged both beasts and human performers.
Horses walked with downcast heads, and some of the men limped painfully.
Altogether it was not a sight to arouse much enthusiasm in the heart of
a boy, accustomed to seeing the outside glitter of a circus, with
prancing steeds, gay colors, music, and the humorous antics of the
clown.

Paul pushed to the front just then.

"I've got something to propose, fellows," he said; and the announcement
was as usual sufficient to rivet the attention of all his comrades; for
when Paul made a suggestion they knew that as a rule it was worth
listening to.

"Hear! hear!" said several, nudging each other secretly, as they crowded
around.

"I can see that there are a large number among us that so far to-day
have not found a chance to