eed Teddy. "But now we've got to think where we're going to
get a tent for our show. If we give a pet animal circus we've got to have
a tent."

"Sure!" agreed Jimmy. "It wouldn't be a circus without a tent. But maybe
my father can get us one. He used to be in the army."

"Oh, let's go ask him!" cried Janet. "We can leave our pets here in the
barn now, for they've been fed and watered."

Off the children hurried to Jimmy's house. His father was not at home,
but Mrs. Norton said she thought her husband could get a tent that would
do for the circus.

"And since you have been feeding the animals, wouldn't you like to feed
yourselves now?" asked Jimmy's mother, with a smile at the Curlytops and
her own son.

"Feed ourselves--how?" asked Teddy. At the same time he noticed a most
delicious smell coming from Mrs. Norton's kitchen.

"I have just baked some molasses cookies," went on Jimmy's mother, "and I
have some lovely, cool milk. Would you like some glasses of milk and
molasses cookies?"

"Sure!" exclaimed Teddy.

"Fine!" cried Jimmy.

"We'd like it very much, if you please," said Janet, and she was extra
polite, to make up for the rather boisterous manner in which Teddy spoke.
But the boys meant to be polite and, after all, that is what counts.

Soon the Curlytops and their friend were out on the side porch, drinking
the cool, rich milk and eating the fresh molasses cookies. It was while
they were thus sitting, talking about the circus they were going to give,
that into the yard came running Top, Uncle Toby's trick dog.

"Hello, Top!" called Teddy. "Were you looking for us?"

Top barked and wagged his tail. Then he acted in a strange manner. He ran
up to Teddy, and caught hold of the boy's coat.

"Oh, he's trying to bite you!" exclaimed Janet.

"He is not! Top would never bite me!" declared Teddy. But he wondered
what the dog was trying to do.

Then Top let go his hold of the coat, and ran a little way toward the
gate. There he stopped and looked back toward the children.

"What makes him act that funny way?" asked Jimmy.

"I don't know," answered Teddy.

With another bark, and wagging his tail, Top again ran up to Teddy and
pulled on his coat.

"I know what it is!" exclaimed the Curlytop boy. "Something has happened,
and Top has come to tell us and get us to go with him! Come on, Jimmy!
Come on, Jan!"

CHAPTER XII

MR. NIP'S ALARM

Together the two Curlytops and their friend Jimmy Norto