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diff --git a/old/65655-0.txt b/old/65655-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 667efab..0000000 --- a/old/65655-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3632 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Billy Whiskers at the Circus, by F. G. -Wheeler - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Billy Whiskers at the Circus - -Author: F. G. Wheeler - -Illustrator: Arthur DeBebian - -Release Date: June 20, 2021 [eBook #65655] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David E. Brown and The Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive/American - Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BILLY WHISKERS AT THE CIRCUS *** - -[Illustration: THE BEARS BEGAN TO PUSH APPLES, CAKES AND PEANUTS -THROUGH THE BARS OF THE CAGE TO BILLY. (PAGE 75)] - - - - - BILLY WHISKERS - AT THE CIRCUS - - BY - - F. G. WHEELER - - [Illustration] - - DRAWINGS BY ARTHUR DEBEBIAN - - THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY - - NEW YORK AKRON, OHIO CHICAGO - - 1913 - - MADE IN U. S. A. - - - - -Copyright 1908 - -by - -The Saalfield Publishing Co. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAP. PAGE - - I Billy First Hears of the Circus 9 - - II Making Preparations 17 - - III Billy Whiskers Decides 29 - - IV On His Way to the Circus 39 - - V Going the Rounds 51 - - VI The Elephant’s Trunk 63 - - VII Billy in Danger 71 - - VIII Chosen Leader 81 - - IX Billy Whiskers Joins the Circus 93 - - X The Kidnappers Foiled 105 - - XI The Wreck 121 - - XII Home Again 135 - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - -[Illustration] - - - The bears began to push apples, cakes and peanuts through the bars of - the cage to Billy. - - The procession finally moved off. - - “Quit that!” shouted Billy. - - “I’ll give you this pony, harness and wagon if you’ll let me have - Billy.” - - He rode on the back of Jumbo, the great elephant. - - Tom and Harry invited them to the house. - -[Illustration] - - - - -_Billy Whiskers at the Circus_ - - - - -CHAPTER I - -BILLY FIRST HEARS OF THE CIRCUS - - -When Billy Whiskers settled in Farmersville he fully expected to end -his days in that quiet little community where he had a good home, -plenty to eat, many friends and enjoyed the reputation of being the -wisest of the animals at Cloverleaf Farm. - -Those of you who do not know his earlier adventures had better read -them in the other Billy Whiskers books. There is no time to tell them -now for so much happened at the Circus we shall have to hurry in order -to get through telling about it by the time this book comes to an end. - -Even Billy himself, in after years, when he amused his great -grandchildren with stories of his earlier life, used to say that the -day at the Circus and those that followed were the most exciting and -interesting of all his life; and although he was asked to repeat the -story very often he generally refused, keeping it for special occasions -like birthdays, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas. He said if -told too often, it would become an old story and all the kids in time -would begin to regard their grandfather an old bore, just as they did -the Mexican parrot who was forever telling the same thing over and -over again. Billy Whiskers, you see, was very wise. He knew that good -stories are just like good clothes or anything else choice, that in -order to keep them good, they must not be brought out every day. - -Billy Whiskers, many of you remember, was a very remarkable goat, -larger and stronger than others, with a beautiful white coat that when -cleaned and well combed was the color of ivory and shone like silk. His -horns, too, always attracted attention, they were so long and shiny. -He could run faster, jump higher and butt harder than any goat he -ever met in all his travels, so that wherever Billy went he very soon -became a leader, though he often had to fight before the other goats -found out that they had far better mind than take the consequences of -disobedience. - -He was saved from being a bully, conceited and cruel, by a kind heart -and sunny disposition. As soon as he succeeded in establishing his -right to leadership, instead of abusing his power by taking the best of -everything for himself, he would protect and help the weak, kindly look -after the little kids and always see that the old goats were fed before -he ate himself. - -It was a sorry day for any dog who bothered the flock when Billy -Whiskers was around. Many a one went howling home after Billy got -through with him. Small boys, too, learned that it was safer and better -not to throw stones in his direction. Probably there are as many as -twenty of them who have had the awful feeling that comes of trying to -run fast enough to get away from the biggest goat that almost anybody -ever saw, knowing that he was losing ground every second, hearing -plainer and plainer every jump of his pursuer, and the last dreadful -moment just before the shock came, and then flying through the air as -though fired out of a gun, believing his end had surely come. But it -never did. Billy Whiskers looked out for that and so timed his attacks -that he could land his victim in a soft place, though he did not in the -least mind if it happened to be a mud puddle. - -[Illustration] - -One day he tossed a particularly mean boy right on top of a hedge where -he staid until his yells attracted the attention of the hired man -ploughing in a near-by field who made no haste, Billy noticed, to pull -him out of his prickly nest. - -You must not suppose from this description that Billy Whiskers was -a model of good behavior for he certainly was not that. When he was -hungry, he would eat whatever he could get hold of, whether it was -intended for him or not. He preferred a lettuce bed or garden generally -but did not draw the line at eating clothes hung out on the line to -dry, or going into a pantry, no matter whose, and helping himself to -everything in sight. - -Of course, tricks of this kind got Billy Whiskers into serious trouble -more than once, but he never said much about it and the animals at -Cloverleaf Farm either didn’t know or wouldn’t believe such stories of -their Billy even if they had leaked out and been whispered around. - -Ever since he had been living at Cloverleaf Farm, which is near -Farmersville or “The Corners,” as the place was more generally called, -Billy had behaved himself, had stopped stealing things to eat, had quit -fighting, which it must be confessed he dearly loved, and in less than -a year had established himself on the friendliest footing not only -with his master and mistress and all the children, but likewise with -the black cat, the dog, the colt and his mother, as well as the other -horses, the cows and calves and even Big Red, the bull, said to be very -fierce, also the flock of sheep with Old Buck for leader. - -[Illustration] - -As was stated at first, Billy Whiskers had found life so pleasant of -late that he had fully made up his mind to stay where he was as long as -he lived. The work he had to do was much to his liking. It consisted -mainly in pulling little Dick around the place in his express wagon -when Tom or Harry usually did the driving. Now and then the drivers -would want to ride, sometimes both of them, when the load would be -pretty heavy and more than once, at such times, Billy was tempted -to run away as he used to do in his earlier years, upset his load -and smash the wagon all to flinders; but he stoutly resisted these -promptings of rebellion, knowing well by long experience that it is -with goats as it is with boys and girls better to take things as they -come; that it is the hard work now and then, the giving up to others -and readiness to do one’s share of whatever comes along that tells -whether he is made of the right kind of stuff. - -So things were moving smoothly with Billy Whiskers and he had no -thought of not spending the rest of his life with the Treat family, -when one June day he heard Tom Treat ask Jack Wright, his playmate and -chum, if he were going to the Circus that was coming to Springfield -the next week. Jack said that he had not heard about it. Tom, who had -just returned from The Corners where he had gone on an errand for his -mother, then told him about the show bills that some men were putting -up on the sides of the post office and blacksmith’s shop. He said that -he had waited so long to see them all that he had forgotten all about -his errand--he called it his “old errand”--that his mother was waiting -for the baking powder and that he had caught “hail Columbia” when he -finally got home. - -Jack said that was nothing, it did not hurt when a fellow was used to -it as he was, and that if he had been in Tom’s place he wouldn’t be -home yet. - -From this you can see what sort of a boy Jack was. - -Billy Whiskers, who was standing near by at the time, smiled to himself -for only the day before he had both seen and heard Jack Wright, who -was now talking so bravely, spanked for going in swimming after his -mother had told him he mustn’t because the water was too cold and -likely to make him sick. Jack hadn’t acted then as though it didn’t -hurt. In fact, it had hurt so much and made him so mad that he had -almost decided to run away from home and join the gipsies who were then -camping at the river not far away. - -But he hadn’t gone after all and was now waiting for his friend Tom -to tell him more about the Circus. It made him almost sick when he -thought that very likely his mother might, as further punishment for -his disobedience, not only not let him go to the big Show but put him -to catching potato bugs instead. “If she does,” thought wicked Jack, “I -certainly will run away and never come back.” He got some consolation -out of imagining how much they would miss him. - -While he was planning this revenge, Tom was talking as fast as he could -and his stories were all the time getting bigger and bigger. By that -time he said that the elephant was as big as the corn barn, that the -giraffe was as tall as the old oak, that the boa-constrictor could -swallow Jeff, the hired man--he wished in his heart he would, for Jeff -had told his father that Tom had made a mighty poor job of hoeing corn -the day before--that there were bears and tigers, lions and hyenas, -wolves and wild-cats, ostriches and eagles, and everything else. He -then began to talk about clowns and beautiful lady horseback riders, -Arabian steeds and the wonderful doings of the trapeze performers. - -All the time Billy Whiskers was listening with might and main. He had -never in all his eventful life been to a circus, didn’t know what it -was, hadn’t even heard of such a thing before. - -The stories Tom Treat was telling Jack Wright excited him and the -first he knew he had forgotten all about his resolve to never run away -again and had fully made up his mind that come what might and cost -what it would, he, Billy Whiskers, goat, would attend the Circus at -Springfield. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -MAKING PREPARATIONS - - -Billy Whiskers had more than a week in which to make his preparations -to go to the Circus. The morning after he had heard Tom Treat, his -young master, telling Jack Wright about it, he almost decided to give -up going. - -In the first place he didn’t know what might happen to him, and more -than once the thought entered his mind that he would be running into -all sorts of danger. You see that Billy was no greenhorn. He had -knocked about a great deal and had been in some awful tight places. -There had even been times when it looked as though he must pay for -some of his escapades with his very life. Those of you who have known -him before this remember his adventures in the Rocky Mountains and in -Old Mexico, and how he was once lost overboard in the middle of the -Atlantic Ocean. Well, all of these things tended to make him cautious, -so that while he had been quick to make up his mind to see for himself -this wonderful Circus, he did not finally start on the trip until he -had thought it all over very carefully and counted, as he supposed, the -cost. Whether he had or not we shall see as we go on. - -As the first step in making ready, he decided to ask his animal friends -at Cloverleaf Farm to tell him all they knew about circuses, for, -thought he, certainly some of them must know and can just as well give -me pointers as not. He did not propose to tell anyone, however, not -even his best friend, Rex, the colt, what his plans were. - -With this scheme in mind, he first approached Abbie, the black cat. -Her real name was Abagail, and while the boys called her Ab for short, -sister Emma and Billy Whiskers always addressed her as Abbie, “for,” -said Billy, “it isn’t so hard a name to pronounce as Abagail and sounds -very much more friendly than just Ab.” He knew that it was well worth -his while to be on good terms with her. - -“Abbie,” he said, when he found her napping the next morning on the mat -before the front door, “what’s a circus?” - -She didn’t move though she heard every word that Billy said. The truth -is she had been very restless the night before and didn’t want to -be disturbed in her morning snooze. More than that, she had no idea -what a circus was and didn’t want to let Billy Whiskers see that she -couldn’t answer his question if it could be helped. Cats, you remember, -have been considered very knowing creatures ever since the days of -the Pharaohs in Egypt, and Abbie was very proud of her race and its -reputation and didn’t propose to lessen it. So she lay perfectly still -when Billy asked her about the circus. - -He repeated the question in a louder tone. Still there was no reply. -If his mind had not been so taken up with the matter, Billy would -have known that there was something wrong and gone elsewhere with his -question. But he did not stop to think, he was so bent and determined -on finding out about circuses. So he next, with more force than he -probably intended to use, poked Abbie in the side with his left horn. -Then there was a fuss. She jumped up as though she had suddenly found -herself sleeping on a bumblebee’s nest, and the first Billy knew she -was looking at him for all the world as he had seen her look one day -at a strange dog which had chased her into a corner where further -flight was no longer possible and she had turned to fight him off if -necessary. Billy Whiskers had appeared on the scene then just in time -to rescue her, but Abbie had now forgotten all about that debt of -gratitude. - -There she stood with her front and hind feet close together, her back -all humped up, her fur sticking out so that she looked twice as big as -usual, her tail all swelled up and jerking nervously, while her eyes -looked, as Billy said afterward, as green as old Croaker’s back. (Old -Croaker was the big frog in the pond behind the great barn.) - -“Why, Abbie,” exclaimed Billy, “it’s me, your old friend. Don’t look -like that! I only want to ask you what’s a circus.” - -Then he got a piece of Abbie’s mind. - -“Billy Whiskers, you are no gentleman. If you were, you wouldn’t be -around here disturbing my rest. You know that I am half dead with -neuralgia and that the only sound sleep I get is when the sun shines on -my right side. Now you be off, and if you ever cut up like this again, -you’ll get a scratching that you can’t forget to the last day of your -life.” - -She would probably have kept right on scolding for a long time, but as -soon as Billy Whiskers realized what he had done, he turned and trotted -off without even trying to apologize. - -“She probably don’t know what a circus is and takes that way to conceal -her ignorance. I’ll never believe in cats again,” thought Billy. - -“There,” said Abbie, when Billy disappeared around the corner of the -house, “he’s gone and I’m glad of it. He thinks that I know all about -circuses but wouldn’t tell him because I was cross at being disturbed. -Wasn’t that a good one about my neuralgia!” and Abbie laughed as cats -do, and washed her face. - -Billy next asked his best friend and greatest chum, Rex, the colt; but -Rex, who was quite young, owned up at once that he didn’t know. - -“Billy Whiskers,” said he, “how can I be expected to know about such -things when you don’t? You have been almost everywhere and I always -thought you had seen everything. If you don’t know what a circus is, -there is no one at Cloverleaf Farm who can tell you.” - -Some people would have been discouraged by this time, but not so Billy -Whiskers. - -[Illustration] - -“I’ll have to ask old Polly Parrot and I don’t want to one bit. She -will probably laugh at me, and it is quite as likely as not she may -suspect my plan and in that case she will blab it all over Cloverleaf -and I’ll find myself shut up and closely guarded by Tom and Harry. -While I don’t like Polly Parrot any too well, I must admit that she is -as sharp as tacks and if I’m to get anything out of her I shall have to -be very sly when I ask her about the matter.” - -Billy was just saying these mean things to himself when he spied Miss -Polly out in the grape arbor, swinging and chattering. - -“Now is my time,” thought Billy. - -“How do you do, Polly Parrot? Nice morning, isn’t it? You have no idea -how fine you look with the sun shining on your beautiful feathers. I’ve -always known that you are handsome but you certainly outshine yourself -today.” - -“That will fetch her,” thought Billy. - -“What do you want now, Billy Whiskers? You can’t fool me by your soft -talk. You are up to some mischief. What is it?” - -Billy, without replying, beat a hasty retreat, thankful that he had not -asked Polly Parrot outright about circuses. - -“She is a suspicious old maid,” he said to himself, “and I can’t afford -to fool with her.” - -Billy then went to the stable to interview old Gyp, the horse that was -said to have been in the Treat family for nearly thirty years. - -“Billy Whiskers,” she said, hearing his question, “I wish I could tell -you about circuses, but I can’t. My memory is no longer good. It seems -to me that more than twenty years ago I heard a lot about a circus -being in Springfield and a man by the name of Barnum who was connected -with it, but I am not sure and it makes my head ache to try and recall -the circumstances. I’m sorry I can’t help you, and I am afraid that -you will not come to call on me soon again because I am so old and -forgetful.” - -[Illustration] - -“There, there, old Gyp, don’t worry any more about it. I am sorry I -asked you the question. I know you would gladly tell me if you could -and that’s kind of you, I am sure. Of course I am coming to see you -every day. I make few calls that I enjoy so much.” - -With this kind speech Billy left the old horse feeling sure that she -had a good friend in him. It was by such little kindnesses as these -that Billy made himself popular. - -Billy felt pretty sure that the big Newfoundland dog, Bob, could tell -him. Of late they had grown to be the greatest friends, though it had -seemed for a number of months as if they must always remain enemies. -Billy thought that Bob was jealous of him, and Bob thought Billy was -conceited and vain. But after they had together saved little Dick Treat -from drowning in the swimming hole down by the wood lot, they had the -utmost respect for each other and were ever after the very best of -friends. - -“Bob,” said Billy, “what’s a circus?” - -“I can’t tell much about it, Billy Whiskers. When I was living in the -city, a circus came one day. There was immense excitement. I went -early to see the parade. After long waiting, I heard someone say that -the head of the procession was in sight and that the elephants were -leading. I ran right out into the middle of the street to get a good -look. One was enough. I turned and ran, never stopping until I was safe -under the barn at my home. The head of that procession, the elephant, -was the biggest, the most dangerous, the worst looking beast I ever -laid my two eyes on. I hope, Billy, you may never see one for if you -do, your rest will be broken for months you will have such dreadful -nightmares.” - -Bob fairly shivered as he recalled the elephant to mind. - -Billy asked him no more questions for he saw that Bob had told him all -he knew about the subject. He made up his mind that it would do no good -to ask any more of his home friends about it, but then happened to -think of his disreputable acquaintance, the old striped Coon who lived -in the big chestnut tree down in the woods, so he went down to see him. - -Mr. Coon was at home and a few knocks on the trunk of the tree with -Billy’s horns brought him to the door. - -“Hello, Billy Whiskers,” said the Coon. “What do you want? Don’t you -know that this is my time for sleeping?” - -Billy did know it for he was aware that Mr. Coon spent his nights, -to a large extent at any rate, in robbing hen roosts. In fact, their -first meeting had been late one evening when Billy had gone to the -garden to select some choice lettuce heads for his own eating, a thing -he wouldn’t have dared to do in the daylight. (This was before he had -entirely reformed.) He was nibbling away at a great rate on the finest -plant in the whole bed when he was startled not a little at seeing -a strange thing creeping noiselessly along just inside the garden -fence. It seemed to have fur and also feathers. Just as Billy decided -that there was a spook after him and it was time for him to run for -his life, the Coon, for he it was, dropped the white chicken he was -carrying along in his mouth, and said: - -“Good evening, Mr. Billy Whiskers. I have often seen you at a distance -but have not had the pleasure of making your acquaintance before. It -seems that you, like me, get your living at night. I think that we -ought to be friends.” - -Poor Billy, what could he say? He did not want to associate as a -general thing with the Coon who was known to be a thief, but at the -same time he did not see how he could snub him under the circumstances. -So he replied politely to the Coon’s greeting, and ever since they -had been more or less friendly, though Billy never told anyone at -Cloverleaf Farm that he knew the highwayman and robber who lived in the -old chestnut. - -Billy now answered the Coon’s question by asking another. - -“Mr. Coon, what’s a circus?” - -He was never more surprised in his life than at the effect of his -question on the tough and wicked old Coon, for no sooner had the word -circus passed his lips than the Coon fainted dead away and dropped down -in a limp heap with his head hanging out of the big knot hole which -served as the door of his house. As Billy could not climb up the trunk -of the tree to fan him or dash water in his face, there was nothing to -do but wait for him to revive. - -Pretty soon he began to show signs of returning life and finally pulled -himself to his feet again. Billy was then not more astonished at what -he said than at the awful expression on his horrified face. - -“He looked,” as Billy said when he told the story years afterward, “as -though he had seen forty ghosts with every last one of them after him.” - -When the Coon began to speak, his voice was so cracked and squeaky that -Billy wouldn’t have known that the bold old Coon was talking had he -not seen his jaws wagging. This is what he said: - -“William Whiskers, (he called him ‘William’) never mention that horrid -name to me again. It wakes memories that I cannot endure. The very -thought of them makes me faint and spoils my appetite for days. Years -ago I was captured and sold to a circus and it was nine horrible months -before I was able to escape. Ever since, the very thought of all I -endured makes me weak and sick. Nights after eating too much, even of -the tenderest chicken, I have the most awful nightmares when I see -again those horrid monkeys who worried me until I was almost crazy. I -hated them most of all. If the time ever comes when I catch a monkey -alone, I’ll make mince-meat of him if it is the last thing I ever do. -But the monkeys were not all. I can hear yet, in my dreams, the roars -of the lions, the snarling tigers and wild-cats, can see the crowds of -people and feel the canes that were shoved through the bars of my cage -and punched into my ribs, and can hear and see that fool of a clown -saying and doing the same silly things day after day. Oh, it was awful! -It makes me faint to think of it.” - -Billy thought he was going to keel over again, but he didn’t. Feebly -waving his paw in farewell, he slowly withdrew from sight. - -The story told by the old Coon made Billy very sober, and again he -wondered if he had better not stay at home and take no risks, for he -said to himself: - -“What if the circus folks should take it into their heads to capture me -and make me one of their attractions and I should have as bad a time as -the old Coon? I’d wish then that I had stayed at home and minded my own -business.” - -After the day spent in fruitless inquiry, he went to bed saying that he -would sleep over the matter and decide later what he had better do. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -BILLY WHISKERS DECIDES - - -Billy awakened from a troubled sleep with doubts and misgivings in his -mind. If the day hadn’t been fine with everything and everybody looking -bright and cheerful, the chances are that he would have then and there -dismissed all thought of the Circus and spent the balance of his days -in happy though humdrum existence at Cloverleaf Farm. In that case this -story would never have been told. - -It so happened that Mrs. Treat, the mother of Tom, Dick and Harry, -wanted some things that morning, and so, after breakfast, told Tom, who -was the eldest of the three, to wash his face and hands _clean_, put on -his shoes and stockings, and make himself neat and tidy generally, for -she wanted him to go to The Corners to “transact some business” for her. - -What she really wanted was a spool of thread, a dozen clothes-pins, -some blueing and two yards of cheese cloth--just common “errands” as -everybody can see. But Mrs. Treat knew how to manage boys and she was -alive to the fact that her son Thomas had rather “transact business” -than “do errands.” Even so, he made it a condition of his cheerful -going that Harry and Dick be allowed to accompany him, the latter in -his new express wagon drawn by Billy Whiskers. - -“You may all go,” said Mrs. Treat, “but be very careful, and don’t -stay too long. Keep a close eye on Billy Whiskers. We all love Billy, -and he is certainly the handsomest goat in the county, but you mustn’t -forget that we are not as well acquainted with his early history as I -wish we were. I have never been able to dismiss the feeling that there -are things in his past that are not to his credit. So you want to watch -out.” - -The boys promised, though they did not for one minute believe that -Billy Whiskers had not always been the friendly, quiet, peaceable goat -that he now appeared. Mrs. Treat, however, was wiser and spoke truer -than she knew, as this story will show a little later, though she need -not have given herself any anxiety on the present occasion for little -Dick and his new, red wagon. Dick was the dearest, brown-eyed little -chap in the world and everybody loved him, Billy Whiskers included, who -wouldn’t for anything have any harm or hurt come to his little master -when under his care. - -Although they had been through breakfast by seven o’clock, or a little -later, it was nine before the Treat boys were ready to start to The -Corners. - -[Illustration: THE PROCESSION FINALLY MOVED OFF.] - -Billy looked very scrumptious in his silver-plated harness, newly -polished, especially after he was hitched to the new wagon, marked -in gilt letters on the sides “Overland Limited,” with Master Dick in -the seat, reins in hand, but no whip for Billy Whiskers had early given -them to understand that a whip was worse than useless where he was -concerned. - -[Illustration] - -The procession finally moved off with Tom on one side of Billy and -Harry on the other. - -“We’ll have to keep this up,” whispered Harry, “until we get out of -mother’s sight, and then we can go as we please.” Harry was always -called a “queer child.” - -At The Corners Billy Whiskers saw for himself the wonderful bill -posters that Tom had told Jack Wright about. - -The boys spent as much time as they dared looking at them, which gave -Billy a good chance to carefully examine the marvelous sights. - -As all my readers know how circus billboards look and how much they -make one want to go to the show, they will not be surprised that Billy -Whiskers quite forgot the warning of old Mr. Coon and again decided -that he must see for himself these wonderful animals and astonishing -performances that the reading at the bottom said were but faintly -portrayed by the pictures above. - -When Billy reached home, having brought little Dick and his wagon -safely through, he lay down to think over once more the Circus, the -difficulties in the way and the fun it promised. - -All of a sudden he bethought him of his old friend and -fellow-traveller, Terrence Bull Pup, who, he now remembered, was living -in Springfield where the Circus was to hold forth. Although Billy had -not answered Terrence’s last letter, having made up his mind to cut -loose from his reckless friends when he came to Cloverleaf to live, he -nevertheless now decided to write to him, telling of his intention to -come to the Circus and ask his advice about a place to stay. - -“Of course,” thought Billy, “he’ll ask me to come and stop with him.” - -So he wrote and sent in the animal fashion and language the following -well-worded and friendly letter. - - Cloverleaf Farm, June 10th, 1908. - Terrence Bull Pup, Esq., - Maiden Lane, Springfield, Ohio. - - My Dear Friend Terry:-- - - Although it has been a long time since you have heard from me, I am - still your true friend and now welcome the prospect of renewing our - old-time acquaintance with the utmost pleasure. - - You will be glad to hear that I am well and happy, with a good home, - plenty to eat and surrounded by many friends. I am no longer the sort - of goat you used to know, having turned over a new leaf on coming here - to live. I have given up fighting almost altogether, very rarely steal - things to eat or rob pantries or clothes-lines now, do but little - butting, and, in short, live a peaceable and respectable life, and try - to be a good example to all my friends and neighbors. I never expected - to do anything different but I am hearing so much about the Circus - that is coming to Springfield, and the billboards that I saw at The - Corners this forenoon make it appear so attractive that I have decided - to take it in, and so write to you, my old friend, to ask if it will - be quite convenient for you to have me for a guest at the time. I not - only want to see you, but feel that your greater familiarity with the - ways of the world at present will be of the greatest help to me in - keeping out of danger and in seeing all the wonderful sights to best - advantage. - - I trust that this letter finds you well and as handsome as ever. - - A prompt reply will be appreciated by - - Faithfully your friend, - Billy Whiskers. - -“That’s a good letter,” said Billy Whiskers, as he read it over before -posting. “It will bring an invitation all right or I miss my guess. He -can’t resist that reference to his good looks. Terry always was vain. -As near as I can make out, he considers his pug nose very cute and -attractive and those bow legs of his as models of grace.” - -When Terrence Bull Pup received Billy Whiskers’ letter he was of two -minds, both pleased and mad. - -At first he was inclined to accept Billy’s words of friendship and -flattery as the true expressions of his warm heart, and write him a -reply with a cordial invitation to come to Springfield at once, stay -for a few days and be his guest at the Circus. - -On reading the letter a second time, it occurred to him that Billy -Whiskers might be trying to make use of him and that all his soft -remarks about true friendship and his good looks were just so much bait -with which to catch what he wanted. - -He remembered that in the old days Billy Whiskers was in the habit of -thus working his friends, and he also recalled the fact that his last -letter, in which he had suggested joining Billy in his new home at -Cloverleaf Farm, had never been answered, a neglect on the part of -Billy that cut deep and rankled whenever he thought of it. - -More than that, Terrence did not like and had no sympathy with this -talk about turning over a new leaf. Terrence Bull Pup knew well that -HE had turned over no new leaves. In fact, if the truth must be told, -he was now known all up and down Maiden Lane, the street on which he -lived, as “the terror.” - -[Illustration] - -“No,” he said, after looking at the matter from all sides, “I’ll not -be taken in by sly old Billy this time. If he imagines he can fool me -by his flattery and true friendship dodge he’ll find himself greatly -mistaken. Anyhow, his letter gives me a chance to give him a piece of -my mind straight, and I’ll just do it, too.” - -So he wrote as follows: - - Springfield, June 12th, 1908. - - Dear Bill: - - Your letter just received. I can’t say that I was very pleased to get - it. If you had answered my last letter I might feel different. - - Of course, if you come to the city to attend the Circus, I shan’t run - you off when you knock at my door. But my advice to you is to keep - away. You are altogether too good now to go to circuses, though I well - remember the time when you were not good enough. This talk of yours - about turning over new leaves don’t go with the writer of this letter - one bit. I knew you too well of old, but even if you think you are - better than you used to be, you had best take no chances of a relapse, - but stay where you are, which is the advice of - - Your one-time friend, - Terry B. P. - -“Well,” said Billy, as he finished reading this letter, “if that ain’t -the very worst! I must have rubbed his fur the wrong way. He always was -the meanest dog I ever knew. This settles it--I’ll never associate with -him again.” - -While Billy talked big, he had a sneaking feeling all the time that -for once Terrence Bull Pup had the best of him. His conscience was not -altogether clear about not having answered his letter. - -“At any rate,” he wound up, “I’ll go to that old Circus now if I never -do another thing. I may have a chance to show that dog a trick or two -yet. I’ll start day after tomorrow.” - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -ON HIS WAY TO THE CIRCUS - - -It was ten miles from Cloverleaf Farm to Springfield so Billy Whiskers -decided to make an early start for he didn’t want to miss any of the -sights by being late. More than that, he could get away much easier -before the family were up when it would be necessary to make all kinds -of excuses and tell all sorts of fibs, and even then it was as likely -as not that the boys would decide that it would be safer for him to be -locked up all day, which would make no end of difficulty and delay, -even if he finally succeeded in breaking out and making his escape. - -The evening before he went around calling on all his friends. While he -did not actually bid them good-bye, it was afterward remarked that he -had seemed unusually kind and subdued. Polly Parrot, talking it over -with the Plymouth Rock family, said that she felt sure all the time -that there was something up, but she had never hoped for any such good -luck as his clearing out. At which heartless speech the Plymouth Rocks -were greatly scandalized, and they told Polly, all talking together, -that she ought to be ashamed of herself and that they did not care to -associate with her any more until she was ready to take back what she -had said and apologize. - -“Uh,” said Polly, “Apologize nothing! He’ll be back all too soon. -You’ll see,” and she laughed like a crazy person. - -[Illustration] - -It seems that she had overheard Billy Whiskers call her a mean old maid -a few days before and had not yet either forgotten or forgiven that -slight. - -All the animals at Cloverleaf, except Polly Parrot, were deeply grieved -when it was learned on Circus day morning that Billy Whiskers was -nowhere to be found. - -There were all sorts of guesses as to what had become of him. - -Tom and Harry, remembering how interested he had been in the billboards -at The Corners, at once suspected the truth, and nothing must do but -that their father must take them to Springfield that they might look -for missing Billy. - -Mr. Treat, who had been trying to find some good excuse for going, -agreed with the boys very much more readily than they had expected and -told them to be ready to start by eight o’clock so as not to miss the -parade. - -Mrs. Treat, who had said over and over again that Springfield was too -far away for any of them to think of going, when she learned what -preparations were afoot, at once decided that it would not be safe for -them to go without her, and if she went little Dick would have to go -too. So at the appointed time they all started. - -Billy Whiskers, though he never intended it, was therefore responsible -for his little masters seeing a circus for the first time in their -lives, and he was glad at having been able to do them that great favor -when, in the end, it all came out well. - -In the meanwhile Billy, who had started a little after four o’clock in -the morning, was on his way to Springfield, following the road which he -learned by previous inquiry was the shortest and most direct. - -His mind was not entirely at peace for it troubled his conscience to -have thus unceremoniously left behind him the home and friends where -and by whom he had, on the whole, been treated most kindly; and while -it was his good intention to return the following day at latest, there -was an uneasy feeling in his bones that it might be a long time before -he should see Cloverleaf Farm again, but these sad thoughts and gloomy -forebodings were soon outweighed by the excitement of the journey and -the anticipation of the pleasures in store. - -He had gone probably four miles before anything out of the common -occurred to disturb his serenity or interfere with his peaceful -progress. - -It is altogether likely that he might have gone on and reached -Springfield by eight o’clock at latest, in ample time to see not only -the great parade but some of the show cars unload as well, had he not -turned aside to snip a few heads of delicious looking cabbage which -he chanced to spy in a garden at the side of a house he was passing. -Cabbage, you know, is regarded about the finest of all vegetables by -goats, and in this respect Billy Whiskers was no exception to the rest -of his tribe. - -So when he saw the beautiful green leaves sparkling with the dew of the -early morning, the temptation was more than he could resist. - -He was eating away at a great rate, having, as he afterward declared, -the time of his life, when, without warning sound, he was startled -nearly out of his wits by the feel of heavy hands suddenly laying hold -of his horns. A voice that sounded to him like the crack of doom, (that -is what he called it when he told the story to his grandchildren many -years later) called out:-- - -“I’ve got you this time, my beauty, and I’ll be blest if I don’t keep -you! You’ll pay well for stealing in my garden. Come here, Lige, and -help me lock this goat in the barn. He’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen -and I can’t handle him alone. Hurry up! He’s getting ugly.” - -Billy was certainly becoming as ugly as he could under the -circumstances, but there was very little chance for him to use his -great strength, and as for butting his captor, Farmer Grant, none -at all, for he had both Billy’s horns in his powerful hands and was -rubbing his nose in the cabbage or dirt, wherever it happened to -strike, with no let-up. With the aid of the hired man called Lige, -Billy was finally pushed and pulled inside the big barn door, which was -quickly shut and securely locked. - -[Illustration] - -Even then Billy would have made things lively but his horns were still -held in that horrible grip, and not until a stout strap was buckled -about his neck and he was tied by a strong rope to a wagon wheel did -the farmer let go, jumping out of harm’s way at the same instant, -for he already felt no little respect for those long sharp horns and -Billy’s strong neck. - -“We’ll leave him for the day, and by the time we are back from the -Circus he will be so hungry that we can manage him without risking our -lives. He is certainly the biggest and handsomest goat I ever saw. I -wonder where he comes from. You don’t suppose, Lige, that he belongs to -the show and has run away? At any rate, he is mine now and anybody who -gets him will have to pay well.” - -Farmer Grant talked on at a great rate as he and Lige were hitching the -span of handsome bay colts to the family surrey preparatory to going to -Springfield for the day. They then went into the house for breakfast, -and at eight o’clock the whole family had started. - -Billy, in the meantime, had been resting and laying his plans. As soon -as he saw that he was fastened by a rope instead of a chain he began to -be hopeful and his spirits rose, though he greatly regretted the loss -of time. - -He commenced chewing away at his tether before the Grant family had -driven out of the front gate and never stopped until the rope fell -apart. This took fully half an hour. While he was doing this, you can -imagine his surprise and guilty fear at seeing through a crack in the -side of the barn the whole Treat family driving by. He hadn’t expected -that they were going to the Circus--hadn’t wanted them to, in fact, for -he knew that he would have to keep dodging them if they were there, -and he more than suspected that there would be excitement quite enough -without this added anxiety. - -[Illustration] - -But since they were to be present, he was glad that he had seen them -for he would now be on his guard. After cutting the rope that held -him with his sharp teeth, the next thing was to get out of the barn. -This was no easy matter, and Billy had about decided that it would be -necessary to butt right through the side of it when he discovered a -small door fastened on the inside by a wooden latch. By raising the -latch with one horn he was able to release and so open the door. - -After getting out, he first thought that he would pay off Farmer Grant -for all the mean things he had done to him, but just as he was about to -begin with spoiling his garden, he heard the clock in the house begin -to strike and so stopped to count. - -“Ten o’clock,” said he, “and six miles to go. I haven’t time now to do -a good job, so I’ll wait until I come back and then I’ll fix him or my -name is no longer Billy Whiskers.” - -Poor Billy, little he knew what was in store for him! - -He soon found that he could no longer travel in the road. There were -too many people constantly passing, all going toward Springfield, -doubtless to attend the Circus. Almost everybody either called to him, -passed comments on his appearance, or wondered where so fine a goat -could be going all by himself. - -“This is bad enough,” thought Billy, “but it will be worse if somebody -overtakes me who knows who I am. As like as not he would try to capture -me and then my fun would be spoiled. No, the only thing now to do is to -take to the fields. I’ll get there some way but it is harder work than -I ever thought.” - -He soon found a place where the bars were down, and turned aside into -the fields. - -Following along as near to the road as he dared, he made pretty fair -progress. Presently he heard whistles begin to blow, and coming to the -top of the hill he was climbing, looked down on the other side to find -the busy little city of Springfield spread out before him. - -[Illustration] - -“It must be noon,” commented Billy, “that’s why the whistles are -blowing. It will keep me busy to get to the show by the time the -performances begin. The bills said one o’clock sharp. Way off there to -the south is the big tent. My, ain’t it a whopper! I don’t know how -I shall ever get in, but I must manage it somehow, and I’m glad I’ve -come. If only Terrence Bull Pup hadn’t been so snippy, I would have had -no trouble and might have seen the whole thing. As it is, I’ve missed -the parade. I wish now that I hadn’t stopped to eat that cabbage. - -“I hope I see Terrence. If I do, he’ll soon find I am not so good yet -as to pass over his slights without notice. I can just feel myself -giving him such a butting as he has never had before.” - -All this time Billy was trotting down the long hill that leads into -Springfield from the west. The houses were becoming thicker and -difficulties in going cross-lots increasing. He shortly found it -necessary to take to the open streets. But there were so many people, -and so much excitement and confusion that Billy was a little out of -patience to find that no attention was paid to him. - -Even the boys, who had generally made him trouble in the old days, now -let him alone. - -They were on their way home from seeing the parade where there had been -elephants, and camels, and bears, and lions and tigers on view. What -was a goat, even as big and proud and handsome as Billy Whiskers, to -sights like these? - -Besides all that, most of them were going back to see the performance -as soon as they had had their dinners. No, they had no time for goats -now! - -Little they guessed how much of that day’s excitement and fun would be -due to the great goat they were meeting so carelessly in the street. If -they had, you may be sure they would have looked at him twice. - -At length Billy Whiskers found himself before the great tent. People -were beginning to crowd in. There were hundreds and thousands of them. -The day was hot and the dust stifling. There was an awful racket and -Billy had all he could do to keep from being trodden under foot. - -As he waited, he wondered what he was to do next and almost wished that -he was safely with his dear friends at Cloverleaf Farm. Finally he made -up his mind that as there was no one likely to offer him a ticket, -the only way for him to get inside was to go. So he made a rush for -it right through the opening in the side of the tent, past the ticket -takers, who made a grab at him. - -“Never touched me!” shouted Billy. Then he raised his head to find -himself surrounded by such sights as he had never even dreamed of. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -GOING THE ROUNDS - - -“My stars!” said Billy, as he cast a frightened look around, “I don’t -wonder now that my friend Bob ran for his life and hid under the barn -when he saw animals like these coming toward him. I’d run too if I -could, but I can’t now. If all these people feel safe and can have a -good time, I guess I can take care of myself.” - -Having in a great measure collected his wits by this time, and his -heart no longer beating so that he could scarcely breathe, the result -of the excitement of rushing past the ticket takers, he made a more -careful survey of his surroundings and quickly decided on his course of -action. - -He saw that he was in the section of the great tent devoted to the -wild animals and freaks. As all readers know just how the cages are -placed around the sides of the tent, with the elephants and camels in -the middle; and how the human skeleton, the fat lady, bearded woman, -hairy man, dwarf, giant and such like freaks are seated on a raised -and rickety platform not far from the elephants, we will not stop -to describe the scene that now presented itself to Billy Whiskers’ -wondering gaze. It looked grand to him and he was just as excited as -boys and girls are when they find themselves inside the great tent with -all its wonders spread out before them. - -“I’ll first call on the animals and make friends with those that look -pleasant and answer good-naturedly the few questions which I want to -ask,” thought Billy. “Then I will go in and see the Circus that the -billboards at The Corners had so much to say about, and especially -the clown who makes Tom and Harry Treat laugh so that they can never -mention him without almost splitting themselves. I didn’t like all the -things they said about him. If he makes those poor horses race too -fast and strikes people with that board of his that cracks so, I shall -be tempted to give him a dose of his own medicine. I am not so meek -yet, in spite of what Terrence Bull Pup is pleased to say, that I can -stand it to see horses abused or innocent actors hurt by an outlandish -looking clown.” - -What really happened to the clown, owing to Billy, we shall hear a -little later. - -So with only the thought to bother him that some member of the Treat -family might spy him and take him out for safe-keeping before he had -seen all the sights, Billy started right in at the cage nearest to -hand. As for the Treats, he knew that there was nothing to do but take -his chances and that they were pretty good considering the great size -of the tent and the thousands of people in it. - -As he approached the cage in question, a big one, he discovered that it -contained six or eight animals about the size of his friend Bob, the -dog at Cloverleaf, though not nearly so pleasant to look at. - -“Indeed,” thought Billy to himself, “I’m glad that crowd are where they -can’t get at me. I don’t like their looks. I’ll just see who they are -and pass along.” - -This was easier said than done for every one of the group of prisoners -was restlessly pacing up and down, evidently looking for some way to -get out. - -It was a minute or two before Billy was able to catch the eye of one -of them for they seemed to never look at anyone, afraid to, in fact. -At length the largest, who seemed bolder than the rest, caught sight -of Billy Whiskers and was so surprised that he stopped short to take -another look. As this was the chance Billy had been waiting for, he -quickly improved it. - -“How are you?” said he. “Do you mind telling me the name of your -interesting and lively family? I am a stranger here and want to learn -all I can. As you see, I am an animal myself and have none but the -friendliest feeling for all our race.” - -This polite speech won for Billy an answer, as he felt sure it would. - -“How do I do?” snapped the caged beast. “I’m most unhappy. We are -wolves. I, myself, came from the boundless steppes of faraway Russia -where I and my people for hundreds of years, have been wont to roam -wild and free and far. We are all robbers and live by plundering -farmers. When quite young, I grew so bold that I was finally captured -alive while eating a sheep I had killed. After endless travels over -land and sea, I arrived in a dreadful place called New York, and was -shortly sold to this show and put into a cage with these other wretches -and ever since we have been a spectacle to crowds of people day after -day. I have no words with which to tell you, sir goat, how we hate this -life.” - -The snarl with which he said these last words was so fierce that it -made Billy fairly shiver. - -Without waiting for a reply, the big wolf went on: - -“My companions are no less unhappy than I am, though there is little in -common between us as we have been collected from all over. There is no -quarter of the globe in which branches of our family do not exist. We -never stop trying to find a way to get out, and if we ever do, we will -make some of these cruel people who have come here to look at us with -never a thought of pity for our forlorn condition, wish they had stayed -at home. There is that little rosy-cheeked, brown-eyed boy with his -mother. He’s about three years old, I guess, just the right age to be -tender eating. How I’d like to get my jaws into his throat!” - -[Illustration] - -The old wolf smiled wickedly as he said it. - -Billy looked to see whom he meant, and to his horror saw his own little -Dick holding fast to his mother’s hand. They had passed within a few -feet of Billy, but had not seen him. He was thankful for that because -he felt that he could never look a member of the Treat family in the -face again if he had been caught hobnobbing with the great Russian -wolf, especially if it ever leaked out what the wolf had said. - -Billy’s nerves were so shaken and he felt so sick after hearing the -dreadful threats the wolf had made that he crept between the wheels -under the cage and lay down behind the wooden side of the cage which -was banked against the far wheels. Here he had time to recover his -composure in peace and pull himself together. - -It was not long, of course, before Billy felt well enough to go on. - -Strange to tell, the more he thought of the old wolf’s story, the less -he blamed him for being so savage. He realized that in picking out -little Dick as the one on whom he would like to wreak his vengeance, -he had not known that he was Billy’s dearest friend and that Billy had -once risked his own life to save him from drowning in the old swimming -hole, and was more than willing to do so again if the necessity ever -arose. Finally Billy owned to himself if he had been treated as the -wolf had been, captured, taken far from home, penned up in a narrow -cage to be looked at by thousands of people day after day, year in and -year out, with not the faintest hope or chance of escape, he would feel -the same way. The very thought of such a fate made him quake and wish -he had stayed at home. - -Billy crept out of his hiding-place and slipped quietly past the next -three or four cages without stopping to ask any questions, fearing that -the wolves would see him and make an uproar trying to call him back to -hear more of their sad story and to persuade him to find some means -for their escape. Billy was always tender-hearted when it came to the -cases of those in trouble and suffering, and he knew it would hurt his -feelings to be obliged to disappoint even that pack of wolves, thieves -and robbers though he knew them to be. - -By just glancing sidewise at the cages he thus passed and observing the -labels on each he was able to learn the names of the animals he felt -obliged to skip. They were the North American panther or mountain lion, -red deer, wild boar, and hyenas. The last were such ugly, awkward, -unclean and altogether terrifying looking beasts that Billy did not -mind not making their personal acquaintance, though he would have liked -to exchange greetings with the beautiful, mild-looking, gentle-acting -deer; and to have put a question or two to the mountain lion about his -diet. He was crouched in one corner of his cage and looked for all the -world as though he were ready to spring upon some victim. - -The cage before which Billy now stopped was marked in big gilt letters: - - AFRICAN LION, KING OF BEASTS. - -Somehow this did not please Billy Whiskers. Though he would not -have admitted it, down deep in his heart he thought that he himself -was probably the king of beasts, and it did not suit him to see that -another was thus publicly given this proud title. - -“I’ll stop and see what he looks like,” thought Billy. “I don’t believe -he is so much after all. If I get the chance I’ll make him feel small -enough.” - -[Illustration] - -All this time Billy had not been able to see the lion on account of -the crowd of people before his cage. At last he squeezed to the front -row and took his first look. That alone would have been quite enough -to convince Billy that he was justly entitled to be called king of -beasts, but other proof was not lacking, for as soon as the great, -shaggy-headed lion saw a goat was gazing at him he was so surprised -that he let out a terrific roar. - -Even the people were startled and shrank back. As for Billy, he would -certainly have keeled over in a fit of fright had not the legs of the -on-lookers crowded against his sides so tight that he was held up in -spite of himself. His giddiness passed away in a minute or two, but -came near overcoming him a second time when he perceived that the great -lion was addressing his remarks to him. - -In telling the story afterward, Billy could never remember exactly what -was said, he was so rattled at the time. - -In spite of the lion’s great voice and savage appearance, Billy was -surprised to find that his remarks were not unkind so far as he was -personally concerned, but perfectly shocking about his captivity, the -sort of life he was obliged to live, the dead meat he had to eat, the -people who looked at him and never once remembered the suffering he -daily endured. - -“Little goat,” roared the lion, “I wish I could change places with you. -Though I am called king of beasts, I would gladly give the title and -all that goes with it to any free member of the animal kingdom, little -or big, who will exchange his freedom with my captivity. I came from -over the sea. My home is in the wild African desert where for ages my -ancestors have reigned supreme. Boundless was our kingdom and no one -there dared to oppose our will. My food I got by strength, and stealth, -and cunning. Like all my race, I scorned to eat that which any other -had killed. All went well with me and mine until a strange terror crept -over the length and breadth of our wide domain. I heard the story, and -laughed, when I heard it, that black men from the coast country were -coming to the desert to capture the lions, that they had been bidden to -do this by the king of the Belgians who in some way had cast an evil -spell over them so that they had no choice but to obey his will, that -if they failed of success they were tortured, maimed and even put to -death. It was said that we lions were valuable and could be sold for -much gold and that was why we were wanted. - -“But why do I tell you, little goat, all this sad story? Because I can -see that while you are as afraid as death of me, you are still sorry -for me and sympathize with me in my awful sufferings. - -“When about a year old, large and strong for my age, I was caught in -one of the cunning traps set for us. Though my case was a hopeless one -from the first, when the black men came to take me, I fought as I had -never fought before. Two of my captors fell, never to rise again. With -a stroke of my paw I had crushed the skull of each. Others of them -were frightfully mangled and wounded. But it was all of no use. I was -brought to America, sold to this show, and here I have been ever since.” - -The other things he said Billy Whiskers would never try even to repeat. -They were too dreadful. His one hope seemed to be that he might some -day break out of his cage when a great crowd of people were before it, -spring upon them and kill right and left until he should feel that he -had paid off the score of all his wrongs and sufferings. - -Billy tried to comfort the lion for he was truly sorry for him. He -realized what a magnificent beast he was and what a wretched life it -must be shut up all the time in one little cage. He told him, however, -that it would be wrong for him to visit his wrath on the innocent -people who came to admire him if he ever succeeded in breaking out, -but that he would be justified in dealing with the wicked king of the -Belgians as he saw fit if he were ever able to get his claws on him. - -Billy then sadly said farewell, for although all this conversation had -taken place in the animal language in much less time than it takes to -tell it, he now felt that he must hasten on as there was still much to -see and hear. - -Turning about, Billy discovered that the cage of the big African lion -was just opposite the place, near the centre of the tent, where the -elephants were stationed. So Billy went to look at them, hoping for -more cheerful things than the stories of the wolf and lion. - -What he found the next chapter will tell. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -THE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK - - -There was even a larger crowd standing around the elephants than in -front of the lions’ cage. It took Billy a minute or two to wiggle -his way through. While he was doing this as quietly and gently as he -could, for you can well believe that he was on his good behavior, a -little thing happened that came near upsetting all his calculations and -bringing to an untimely end the adventures of this red letter day at -the Circus. - -Without in the least intending it, he brushed against the skirts of a -young lady who with her best beau was taking in the sights. She glanced -down to see what the trouble was and, of course, discovered our Billy. -Not knowing him and being very much excited anyway, she jumped to the -conclusion that one of the wild beasts had escaped and that she was -about to be eaten alive. But instead of running as you or I would have -done, she shut her eyes and gave a little squeal and then tumbled over. - -Billy knew that no serious harm had been done and so, instead of -stopping to lend a helping hand, he took advantage of the commotion to -forge ahead and very soon found himself standing close to the head of -the biggest of all the elephants. - -Some of my readers know how funny it feels to be right close up to one -of these great beasts. Billy felt the same way, only more so. He didn’t -dare to move for fear of attracting attention. The thought passed -through his mind that, big as he was, he would not make more than -five or six bites for the monster. He remembered again the story that -Bob had told him of the way he ran and hid when he saw the elephant -marching toward him. He no longer despised Bob for this and only wished -he could do the same thing. - -But bye and bye, as nothing seemed to happen, he began to feel better -and to take notice. Then it was that he first discovered the elephant’s -great trunk. - -“I declare,” said Billy to himself, “that must be his hitching strap, -and he is loose too, I believe that I will hold on to it till his -keeper comes. That will make me all solid with him. There is nothing -like standing in with the management. Perhaps he will give me something -to eat for I am getting awfully hungry. I hadn’t thought of it before -but I am. There has been so much going on all day that I have quite -neglected my health. I’ll be sick tomorrow when I get home if I am not -careful, and then Polly Parrot, as likely as not, will spread the story -all over Cloverleaf Farm that I have been off on a spree. She is mean -enough to do anything, that bird is!” - -By this time Billy had advanced to the place where the end of the -elephant’s trunk was dragging on the ground and quick as scat he had -planted his two feet on it. - -Poor Billy, he little knew what that bit of mistaken kindness was to -cost him. - -[Illustration] - -To his utter amazement and horror the supposed hitching strap began to -curl up and before he knew what was happening, the big elephant had him -tight around the waist and he was sailing up through the air. He had -just time to think that he would be dashed to pieces the next second -when he found himself planted firmly and securely right in the middle -of the great elephant’s back. - -What a shout went up! How the boys and girls laughed! How the people -came rushing that way! - -In the midst of all the excitement and din, Billy heard first of all, -and it seemed to him louder than all, Tom Treat, who yelled at the top -of his voice: - -“Look, Harry, it’s Billy Whiskers!” - -“Holy smoke!” was all Harry could say in reply, he was so astonished. - -Though he was greatly confused and didn’t yet know where he was or what -had really happened, Billy’s first thought was that he must get out of -sight quick or that he would be a goner. He looked about and saw that -he was not far from the platform where all the freaks were, and that it -was the only place he could jump and not light right on top of some of -the people. - -“It’s the biggest jump I’ve ever tried but I have got to do it now and -trust to luck. If I once get to that platform, I can scoot to the other -side of it, drop down behind and hide till all the hubbub blows over. -Here goes!” - -With that he suddenly pulled himself together in a sort of a bunch -and shot straight out into the air right over the heads of a lot of -astonished people. Tom Treat, when telling his chum, Jack Wright, about -it next day, said that Billy could not have gone further or faster if -he had been fired out of a gun. - -Billy imagined that if he were able to reach the platform his troubles -would all be over, but in this he was sadly mistaken. - -When the freaks, the human skeleton, the hairy man from Borneo, the -giant, the dwarf, the fat lady and all the rest discovered Billy on -the elephant, they laughed fit to kill and clapped their hands, but -when they saw him coming right at them through the air like a cannon -ball, they were scared enough. The fat lady, who thought that he must -surely hit her, tried to get out of the way all of a sudden. Of course -she could hardly move when she wasn’t excited. In trying to be quick -about it now, she only succeeded in upsetting her chair and tumbling -over backwards. Down she went right through the floor of the flimsy old -platform, nearly scraping her sides off. Her sudden upset made all the -boards of the floor fly up, throwing the rest of the freaks every which -way, all more or less in a heap. - -On top of them all landed Billy Whiskers. Of course he wasn’t hurt, -and, as good luck would have it, none of the others were, not even the -fat lady seriously, though she had hysterics and cried and laughed -by turns and threw her fat arms, which looked like bologna sausages, -wildly about and kept calling on the giant to protect her. This was -after Billy Whiskers, the unwilling cause of all the commotion, had -pulled himself safely out of the wreck and had hidden completely out of -sight in a big empty box which he had luckily found on the other side, -and quite near the scene of the great catastrophe. - -[Illustration] - -“I’ll slip in here and wait till things quiet down a bit,” thought -Billy. “If I try to get out now the whole crowd will be after me. -Where there is so much excitement and so many things to see, a little -commotion like this doesn’t last long.” - -It was while he was waiting for things to subside that he saw and heard -the queer antics of the fat lady after they had pulled her out of -the hole she had made in the platform. It seemed to the watching and -listening Billy that she was more mad than hurt. - -“Where is that horrid goat?” she screamed. “I want to sit down on him -just once for luck. I’ll teach him to jump at folks like that! There -won’t be a grease spot left when I get through with him. Why don’t some -of you bring him to me?” - -Then she began to laugh and cry and toss her fat arms about. All of a -sudden she stopped short. - -“Come to me, Don Orsino,” she said to the giant. “I’m going to faint -and you must hold me.” - -Billy never could believe that he heard correctly what the big giant -replied, but it sounded to him as though he told her to shut up and not -be a fool, and that she looked like the old scratch and that she had -better look out or she’d lose her job. - -Billy was so indignant that any lady should be treated in such a manner -that he came very near rushing out of his hiding-place and going for -the giant, big as he was, with fire in his eye and head down. - -“One punch, if he didn’t see me coming, would knock him off his perch -and teach him some manners. I’ll try it.” - -But just then Billy remembered what the fat lady had said about sitting -down on him, and how there wouldn’t be a grease spot left when she did, -and so he thought better of his rash resolve to go to her rescue. - -It is fortunate for both him and us that he reconsidered for had he -not, this story would have come to a sudden and very flat ending. - -Billy, safely stowed away in the big pine box, had time to think -matters over and lay a few plans. Presently he began to laugh to -himself the way the elephant had fixed him. - -“The very idea of calling that long thing, which I now know must be his -nose, a hitching strap,” whispered Billy to himself. “It’s enough to -make a dog laugh.” - -You see that Billy did not even yet know that it was the elephant’s -trunk, but called it his nose. - -“I wish the Treat boys hadn’t been there,” Billy went on. “They will -tell everybody at Cloverleaf Farm how it all happened and Polly Parrot -at least will never be through laughing at it.” - -Billy needn’t have worried over this for it was many a day before he -was to see his friends at Cloverleaf Farm again, and when he finally -returned they were all so glad to see him that nobody, not even Polly -Parrot, for a long time thought of making fun of him. - -But I am getting away ahead of my story. There are many adventures to -relate before the memorable home-coming was brought to pass. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -BILLY IN DANGER - - -From his hiding-place in the big box, Billy could look into the -section of the tent where the performances were now going on, could -see the clown in his outlandish dress, hear the shouts of laughter -that followed his remarks, observe the bare-back riding, and watch the -trapeze performers. - -He had just about made up his mind that it was safe for him to start -out again when he overheard some talking near at hand that caused him -not only to pause, but to shrink into the smallest space he could in -the darkest corner of his hiding-place. - -“What are you looking for, Mike?” he heard someone say in a deep voice. - -“That big goat,” was the reply. “Did you see Jumbo put him on his back? -He’s a beauty. When I saw him make that flying leap among the freaks, -it popped into my head that we ought to annex him to this show. He’ll -sure make an attraction.” - -“Do you know I thought the very same thing, and I have been looking for -him too. It seems to me that he must be hidden in some of this rubbish. -Have you looked in this big box?” and Mike kicked with his foot Billy’s -hiding-place. - -“No, I will in just a minute. But say, before we go any further let’s -settle it that whether you or I find the goat, we will own him equally -between us. If we decide to sell him, we’ll share and share alike.” - -[Illustration] - -“I’m agreed to that. It’s my guess that it will take the two of us to -handle and train him. I never saw such a jump in my born days as he -made off that elephant’s back. He must be as strong as an ox. We’ll -have to starve him down a bit, probably, before he will be manageable.” - -“Yes, that’s right. Hurry up now and see what’s in that box. The old -man will be calling us in a minute.” - -“I’ll have to go right now,” thought Billy, “for I won’t be captured -by that precious pair of scamps if I can possibly help it. As like as -not they would want to put me in a cage, and I haven’t forgotten what -that means if the stories of the wolf and the lion can be believed. -It’s awfully unlucky, though, for now I am here there are a whole lot -of things I want to see. The only thing for me to do is the minute one -of them stoops down to look into this box, to jump at him with all my -might, knock him flat, and make a bee line just as fast as I can go -for the entrance. It’s good-bye Circus for me,” sighed Billy, and he -prepared for the attack. - -For once in this eventful day luck was with him. Just as the man called -Mike was coming around--Billy could hear him--where he could look in at -him, someone called and both his pursuers started on the double quick -to get back to their posts, one saying to the other that they would try -it again a little later. - -“Saved again!” Billy would have shouted had he dared to make any noise, -but he didn’t. - -“I must get out of here now as quick as ever I can for they will be -back in a few minutes. When I am mixed up in the crowd, the chances are -that they will not find me. Even if they do I will be in no worse fix -than if caught in this old box. One thing sure, no man will ever grab -me by the horns again like Farmer Grant did. With my head free I am not -so easy to catch and hold.” - -With this he crept out of his place of concealment and was soon on the -other side of the tent, gazing with all his might at the many strange -animals which the different cages contained. - -He stopped to talk with a number of them, but their stories were all -more or less like those of the wolf and the lion. Every one of them -told Billy that he would be glad to exchange places with him, and not -a few warned him to take care and on no account let any of the keepers -capture him. Whatever else you do, they all agreed, keep out of this -show for it’s slavery of the very worst kind. - -The royal Bengal tiger, who told Billy that his home was in the jungles -of India, made him feel more thankful than any of the others that he -was free and could go and come when and where he pleased. The things -which the tiger said were something awful, and the savage way he said -them made his listener tremble from head to foot. He felt a special -spite, it seemed, against a keeper named Mike, whom he said he would -eat alive without a grain of salt if ever he got hold of him. - -Billy was sure from the name that this Mike was one of the two men who -had come so near finding him, and he was more glad than before that he -had escaped when he learned what a cruel master he was. - -It would be very interesting to describe all the animals Billy Whiskers -saw and tell their stories, but it would take too long and doubtless -the readers of Billy Whiskers’ life and adventures know about them -already. If not, they can all be found in the Natural History books in -the library. - -The bears, probably, interested Billy as much, if not more, than any -of the rest. They were very good-natured, especially the young ones, -and seemed very glad to make his acquaintance. - -Billy, who by this time was beginning to be very hungry indeed, told -them how hollow he was, and they said that they would soon fix him up -all right. With that Teddy B. and Teddy G. both began to push good -things to eat through the bars of their cage that fell to the ground -where Billy could get at them. There were apples, cakes, peanuts and -other rich food which people had thrown to the bears in great abundance. - -The crowd of on-lookers when they saw the Teddy Bears feeding the goat -thought it a great joke and laughed at the comical sight. Billy could -hear them saying that they guessed that he was the same goat the big -elephant had put on his back; others were telling their friends how -he had jumped at the fat lady, and then someone said that he believed -that his name must be Billy Whiskers for he had heard a couple of -fine-looking boys inquiring for a runaway goat by that name. And so it -came to pass that many people were beginning to talk about him, and he -felt that he already had good friends in the crowd. - -While it made him proud to hear his little masters called fine-looking, -for he never doubted but that the two boys searching for him were Tom -and Harry Treat, at the same time it put him on his guard, for after -going through so much to see the Circus, he didn’t propose to be -stopped yet awhile. - -If he had only known what was in store for him later, he would have -been glad enough to quit then and there. - -[Illustration] - -“I’ll just take a look at the monkeys and then go in and watch the -performers,” resolved Billy. “It won’t do not to have a good look at -them, for ever since old Mr. Coon told me his story I have been most -anxious to see what monkeys look like. I expect they are dreadful or -the remembrance of them could not affect a tough old sinner like the -Coon as it does.” - -The monkeys’ cage was very large, and was fitted up with all sorts -of contrivances for exercise. There were a dozen or more monkeys of -all sorts and sizes in it, and they were always one of the greatest -attractions of the whole show and the crowds of people in front of it -were enormous. - -Billy had no difficulty in locating it and was very soon watching the -antics of the monkeys with interest. He decided that they were the -strangest looking animals and about the most ugly he had ever seen, but -he couldn’t make up his mind why it was the Coon had seemed to hate -them so much and at the same time to be so afraid of them. - -He would learn pretty soon. - -Like everybody else, Billy soon found himself laughing with all his -might at the funny things the monkeys were doing. They never seemed to -stop for a minute, and around and around they went, always cutting up -some new caper, doing something that nobody expected. - -“The looks of that old blue-nosed Mandrill is surely enough to make a -dog laugh,” said giggling Billy, using his favorite expression. - -Just about this time, two or three of the monkeys spied Billy looking -and laughing. - -“It’s that goat,” said one, “who made such a smash-up in the freak -depot when he jumped off the elephant’s back. I haven’t laughed so hard -in a month of Sundays. I wonder if we can’t make his acquaintance. I -think anybody who can tip over that fat lady is worth knowing. Ask him, -Colonel Mandrill, to come up closer where we can talk to him.” - -And so Colonel Mandrill did as he was requested and politely invited -Billy to draw near. - -At first Billy was shy, but he could see no possible danger, and the -whole group looked so good-natured and jolly that with only a moment’s -delay he stepped quite close to the door of the cage where the space -between the wires was a little greater than elsewhere. - -The monkeys began by asking all about who he was, where he came -from, scarcely giving him any chance to reply. Then they told him, -all talking at once, how pleased they were that he had made such a -confusion among the freaks and how tickled they had been to see the fat -lady, who it seems never had a pleasant word for any of them, going -through the floor. - -They began now in whispers to ask Billy if he could not get them out of -their cage and to tell him how everlasting sick they were of being shut -up. - -Billy drew nearer so that he could hear better and just started -explaining how impossible it was for him to do anything for them when, -without warning and as quick as a flash, the old blue-faced Mandrill -monkey or baboon reached out a long gray arm and grabbed Billy firmly -by his proud whiskers. - -“You’ll either get us out of here or we’ll pull you in,” said he. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -CHOSEN LEADER - - -“Quit that,” shouted Billy, as he pulled and jerked, trying to break -away from the grip that held him fast. - -“No, you don’t,” said old Blue Nose. “I’ve got you now and I say to you -again, either you get us out of here or in you come if I have to pull -you to pieces.” - -“Give me time to think a minute,” replied Billy, supposing that someone -would come to his rescue when it was seen what a tight box he was in. - -But the crowd only laughed, not perceiving how serious the situation -really was and regarding it a great joke that the sly old monkey had -succeeded in capturing so neatly the now famous goat. It happened that -none of the keepers were near at the time or they would have known by -past experience that Billy Whiskers was now in great danger of his life. - -“I’ll give you just one minute to make up your mind whether or not you -care to accept my terms,” now replied Billy’s terrible captor. “If you -free us from our prison, we will make you our leader and follow you -wherever you go,” went on the monkey. - -“I don’t want to be your leader, dear Colonel Mandrill. I am not fitted -for so distinguished an honor.” - -It was all that Billy could do to make this polite speech. His voice, -in spite of his best effort to control it, shook as though he were -having a chill. - -“You waste good time in talking such nonsense. In half a minute more -you will begin to come between the bars of this cage. By the time you -are all in, you’ll look as flat as a pancake for the space is narrow, -but I am strong.” With that heartless remark he gave Billy’s head a -jerk that seemed as though it would break his neck. - -Billy Whiskers took a look at the monkey, saw that the thin gaunt arm -which held him was all muscle, as strong as steel. In a flash it came -to him why the old Coon who lived in the big chestnut at home held the -whole monkey tribe in such dread. - -“My only chance,” thought Billy, “is to break away from him, even if I -lose all my whiskers in doing it.” - -With that, he began to pull back with all his might, throwing his head -up and down, right and left. The strain on his long beard was more -painful than having teeth pulled out, but there was no help for it. He -squirmed and wiggled and twisted. It all did no good. The strong hand -and arm that held him never relaxed. The long, white, luxuriant beard, -once Billy’s pride and joy but now his greatest enemy, did not give -way. - -[Illustration: “QUIT THAT!” SHOUTED BILLY.] - -He felt that his head was being pulled nearer and nearer the fatal -bars. Now his nose touched the iron, and his fore feet were no longer -on the ground. Billy closed his eyes, throwing his head up once more, -not in the hope of breaking loose--he had given that up--but in utter -despair. It saved him. In some way, Billy could never afterward explain -how, one of his horns caught under the pin with which the door was -fastened and as he raised his head for the last time this pin was -dislodged and fell to the ground. - -Billy’s captor was braced against the door at the time, the better to -drag him in, so that when the fastening gave way the door flew open in -a hurry and out popped the blue-nosed Mandrill, followed closely by all -the other monkeys. - -Billy now tried, of course, to get away for he had quite enough of the -monkey tribe by this time, but they wouldn’t have it that way. In two -seconds they were all around him. Billy Whiskers had set them free and -it was plain to be seen that he was the one of all others to tie to now. - -As soon as the monkeys came piling out of their cage, the people who -were looking on scattered right and left. They made a great commotion -but nobody paid much attention. This clearing of the space gave just -the opportunity that was wanted to organize and make a few plans. It -took far less time than it does to tell it. In a minute the decision -had been reached to give _the_ performance of the afternoon, and so -they moved, in a compact body with Billy Whiskers in the center, toward -the great ring, everybody getting quickly out of their way without -being asked. - -At the sudden and unexpected appearance of Billy Whiskers and the -monkeys in the midst of the great amphitheatre, packed with people, a -great shout went up. Such a welcome was never given the most skilled -performer or even to the most popular clown. - -The reception tendered to the newcomers by the performers and clown who -were busy at the time of their coming with their different parts was in -marked contrast to that of the audience. - -They were apparently frightened out of their wits and every one of them -took to his heels, leaving the ring in the possession of the strangest -group that, up to that time, had ever been seen at any circus, though -it became a common sight afterward for the fashion of a new departure -in circus performing was now being thus strangely set. - -Without pausing, the monkeys took up the work of entertaining the -people. It was found afterward, on inquiry, that they had learned their -parts by being able to watch the acting day after day from their cage. - -Some of them mounted the trapeze and gave an exhibition of daring -climbing, swinging, jumping, tight rope walking such as had never -before been seen. Others leaped upon the horses which were in the ring -on their arrival, and dashed around helter skelter, jumping through -rings, leaping from one horse to another while going at breakneck speed. - -[Illustration] - -The audience, of course, at a sight so novel and comical went nearly -mad with delight. It was an occasion never forgotten by those present, -the beginning of a boom for the whole show that made its owners rich -men, for from that day the crowds which came were bigger than ever -before. It was not long before it was necessary to introduce three big -rings in order that the vast audiences might be accommodated. - -Billy Whiskers certainly had no idea what the result would be when he, -as he afterward expressed it, let loose that box of monkeys. Even when -they forced him to go into the ring, calling him their leader, his only -thought was to find some way to shake the whole caboodle of them and -make his escape. - -But he no sooner perceived the shouts of the people, the hand clapping, -the waving hats and handkerchiefs, saw Mr. and Mrs. Treat with Tom, -Dick and Harry on the third row of seats not far from the main -entrance, and last, but not least to his delight, Terrence Bull Pup -peering enviously at him, his eyes fairly green with jealousy, from a -humble position under one of the front seats to which he had evidently -sneaked entirely unnoticed, than he recognized his opportunity to make -himself famous and resolved to make the most of it. - -The old love of excitement, adventure and mischief burned in his heart -once more as it had not done for a long, long time. He forgot his rage -at old Blue Nose Mandrill who was now dashing around the ring in a most -harum-scarum fashion on the beautiful white Arabian steed which had -been deserted by his regular rider on the first appearance of Billy -Whiskers and his troupe, forgot how cruelly the old sinner had pulled -his beard and threatened to make him as flat as a pancake by yanking -him through the close set bars of his cage. He thought only of the fact -that by strange chance he was the acknowledged leader of these bold -acrobats who were taking a great audience by storm. - -[Illustration] - -“Whatever may come of it,” said Billy, talking to himself of course, -“now is my chance and I’ll improve it. These monkeys know what they are -doing and if they want me to be their leader, I will. It won’t do to be -too easy with them. They have undertaken to amuse this great audience -which seems pleased with their efforts and it’s my part to keep them at -it and up to the mark. No shirking now.” - -Whereupon our Billy stepped proudly into the center of the ring. -A little while before he had felt tired and was beginning to look -bedraggled, especially after his trying experience with Colonel -Mandrill, but there were no signs of anything of the sort now. The -Treat boys thought that they had never seen him look so handsome. -Terrence Bull Pup wished as he had never wished anything before in -his life that he had not written that snubbing letter to so famous a -personage. - -[Illustration] - -“Just think,” he growled, “I might be sharing his glory with him if I -had had more sense and decency.” - -No clown ever took the fancy of a crowd as Billy Whiskers did now. He -bowed and bowed in every direction in recognition, as it seemed, of the -great applause that greeted his own efforts and those of his troupe to -please the audience. If any of the monkeys tried to take a rest Billy -was down on him in a minute, sending him aloft or making him go on with -his hair-raising riding. Old Blue Nose, who was completely winded, -fairly begged and plead for a breathing spell, but his leader wouldn’t -hear to it but made him mount his white Arabian and go on with his -trick work. - -For fully ten minutes, while the others were performing, Billy did not -give any exhibition of his own high jumping. - -“I’ll save that to the last,” he thought. His whole time and attention -were occupied in keeping the others going and in acknowledging the -plaudits of the audience. Finally he jumped over the back of one of the -ponies, then over that of one of the smaller horses. - -“I must try the big black stallion,” said Billy. “If I succeed, we will -clear out for we do not want to run this business into the ground. My, -that will be the whale of a jump! I never saw such a big horse in my -life. It won’t do for me to fall down now. These ungrateful monkeys -would depose me, the Treat family would feel disgraced, and that -snooping Terrence Bull Pup would be tickled to death. Here goes!” - -Just as he said that, the great black stallion came galloping by. - -“He will never make it,” shouted the excited and breathless crowd, for -it was plain to be seen what Billy was planning to do. - -He jumped high and true, but the spectators were right for he did not -succeed in going over but lighted fair and square right on the big -black’s back instead. - -Nobody but Billy ever knew that he had failed of his purpose. It looked -as though it had been his intention right along to be borne out of the -ring in this proud fashion. Even his band of monkeys thought so. - -The big horse dashed once around the ring with triumphant Billy on his -back bowing his acknowledgements on all sides, and then down the alley -where the performers made their regular exit. - -The monkeys, seeing their leader departing, without waiting to be -called, followed in quick pursuit. - -What happened then will have to be reserved for our next chapter. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -BILLY WHISKERS JOINS THE CIRCUS - - -When the show manager saw all the performers and even the clown come -running out of the ring right in the midst of their fourth act, he was -naturally very greatly surprised and excited. - -He thought that they had all gone crazy and flew around like a hen with -her head off trying to make them return and go on with their work. - -At last one of them, more composed than the others, made him understand -that something very unusual had happened and that they did not dare go -back into the ring. - -“Look and see for yourself if you can’t believe me,” he finally said. - -So the frantic manager pulled aside the tent flap just in time to be -greeted by the shouts and cheers that the great audience gave to Billy -Whiskers and the monkeys when they saw the astonishing feats they were -performing, as though they were all trained to the business. - -“That beats me hollow,” fairly stuttered the flabbergasted manager. “I -can’t understand it at all, but I hope I know a good thing when I see -it, and I’m no judge if this doesn’t prove the greatest feature and -biggest drawing card the show ever had. The trouble will be to keep -them at it right along. Those monkeys,” you could see he didn’t like -the monkeys from the way he spoke, “are about as much to be depended -upon as the east wind. That big goat seems to make them toe the mark. I -wonder where he came from and who owns him? There is one thing certain, -this show from now on has just got to have him at any price.” - -[Illustration] - -The manager, having satisfied himself with the way things were going -in the ring, hustled back to make suitable preparations to receive -Billy and his followers when they had finished their performance and -came out, for he had no doubt but that they would withdraw in the same -manner as regular actors; and in this, as we already know, he was quite -right. - -The keepers and handy men were summoned from all sides to be ready -to assist if any attempt at escape should be made. The best meal -obtainable was hastily collected and temptingly spread out, and -everything possible done to provide for the comfort of the new -performers and to show how greatly pleased the manager was at their -most successful efforts to entertain his audience. He very shrewdly -thought that by this means he could induce them to repeat their act the -next day and for many succeeding days. - -It is a question whether or not Billy Whiskers and the monkeys would -have peaceably accepted these terms, but when they finally got outside -the ring they were all so tired from their unusual exertions that they -had no spunk left to go on of themselves, much less to resist the -inviting conditions which they found waiting for them. - -As the goat and monkeys had put in their unexpected appearance at the -beginning of the last act of the afternoon’s performance, when they -withdrew from the ring, the audience, after a great deal of cheering -and repeated bursts of hand-clapping, began to slowly disperse. - -The Treat family then held a council of war to decide how they could -best lay hold of their property, Billy Whiskers, and get him safely -back to Cloverleaf Farm. Though not one of them said so, there was fear -in the heart of each that this would be no easy job. - -While they felt sure of Billy’s love for them, especially for little -Dick, they had just seen him in a new and most unexpected role, and the -older members of the family now more than suspected that there were -incidents in Billy’s earlier history that they had not even guessed -at. They now knew, in fact, that sometime, somewhere, he had been -accustomed to a prominent and public position, that he must have seen a -very great deal of the world for otherwise he could not possibly have -fallen so naturally and gracefully into the trying position of clown -and trick performer when so many thousands of eyes were looking right -at him. - -More than that, there was the unspoken fear that the Circus people -might be unwilling to give up a goat who had proven himself such -a wonder and had been the means of making the audience the most -enthusiastic which had ever been in the great tent. They might hide him -and claim that he had disappeared as mysteriously as he had come, or -they might say that he was not Mr. Treat’s property and refuse to give -him up, or they might try to buy him. - -Finally the monkeys had to be considered. It was evident they regarded -Billy Whiskers, whether he liked it or not, as their leader, and there -was no telling what sort of trouble they might make if an attempt was -made to take him away from them. - -It was finally decided that the best thing to do, and in fact the only -course open, was for the family to stick together and go in pursuit of -Billy by way of the exit through which he had disappeared on the back -of the great black horse. - -Very soon therefore, the jubilant manager of the show was confronted -by Mr. and Mrs. Treat with Tom, Dick and Harry at their heels. - -“We’ve come to claim our property,” began Mr. Treat. - -“Yes, Billy Whiskers, he’s my goat,” piped little Dick. - -[Illustration] - -As soon as he heard that voice, Billy Whiskers who was resting near by, -though he had not been seen, jumped up and rushed to greet his master. -He was so pleased to see the family that he quite forgot that he was -probably in disgrace for having run away and gave every sign of his -great regard for them. - -From Billy’s actions it was so plain to be seen that Mr. Treat was -speaking the truth when he claimed him for his property that the Circus -man, whatever he might have planned to do before, did not have the -face to question his word. At the same time he had no intention of -surrendering Billy. As the boys were just as strongly of the opinion -that they would not give up their favorite playmate, it looked for a -time as though there would be a deadlock. - -But the manager was very cute and he knew by long experience how to -manage people both big and little. Had he not spent long years in -learning how to amuse and please them? - -He did not begin by calling Billy Whiskers a good-for-nothing old -goat not worth his salt. No, he said that he was a fine animal, the -most splendid specimen of goathood he had ever seen. This greatly -pleased his owners for they thought the same way about Billy. Then Mr. -Circusman went on to say how fond he already was of him and how kind he -would be to him if he was his property. And so by easy stages he led up -to the plan he had to propose. - -He said that he had no idea that they would think of selling the goat -and that he had no thought of trying to buy him, that he would almost -as soon think of trying to buy little Dick himself, but that he hoped -that they would consider allowing Billy to travel with him for the rest -of the season. If they would agree to this Billy would not only be -given the best care in every way, but that he would pay very handsomely -for the use of him besides. - -Mr. Treat asked his wife and the boys what they thought of the plan. -While Mrs. Treat, who, you will remember, had always been a little -suspicious of Billy, seemed quite willing to consider it and wanted to -know what Mr. Circusman meant by “paying handsomely” for Billy, the -boys took an altogether different view of the case. - -Both Tom and Harry said that they did not want to part with Billy at -any price even if it was not for keeps, while Dick set up a perfect -ki-yi at the very thought. - -“If I can once get the boys on my side it will be all right,” thought -the manager. He turned to one of his men standing near and told him to -go quick and bring the chestnut pony hitched to his wagonette, but he -didn’t say what he wanted of this gay little turn-out. The man shortly -returned and with him was the chestnut pony. - -“Say, Dick, I’ll give you this pony, harness, wagon and all if you will -let me take Billy Whiskers.” - -Dick, however much he loved Billy, could not resist an offer like this. -He had seen this very pony, harnessed as he now stood before him, in -the parade earlier in the day, and he had thought at the time if he -only owned a rig like that he would be the happiest boy in the world, -but it never entered his head that by any possibility he might have -this wish come true. - -When the manager saw by Dick’s smiling face that he was all right with -him, he turned to Tom and Harry and asked them what they wanted for -their share of Billy Whiskers for the rest of the season. - -Tom replied promptly that he wanted a gun and Harry said that he did -too. - -This rather startled Mr. Circusman for it did not seem to him that the -boys were big enough to handle a gun safely and he expected that he was -going to have trouble in fixing it up with them. He talked the matter -over with Mr. Treat and soon found that he did not object to the guns. - -It appeared that both boys were very fond of hunting already and had -more than once been caught out with their father’s old muzzle-loading -rifle, which was known to be dangerous. Being told not to do this and -even punishments failed to put a stop to the practice. For this reason, -doubtless, Mr. Treat welcomed this chance of getting guns of safest -make and best fitted for the hunting small boys found in the woods near -Cloverleaf Farm. - -The manager of the Circus, therefore, gave Mr. Treat the money with -which to buy two good guns, one for Tom and one for Harry, with a -handsome sum beside which he said Mr. and Mrs. Treat were to use in -getting themselves a remembrance of this day at the Circus. - -After these arrangements had been made the saddest part of the whole -business took place, namely, bidding Billy Whiskers good-bye. Of -course, Mr. and Mrs. Treat did this without much fuss. Tom and Harry -were so excited about the guns which were to be bought before they -started for home and were so anxious to get to the gun store that they -came near overlooking the fact but for Billy there would have been no -guns to buy. But when they remembered this they were really grateful -and expressed their regret at parting from their old playfellow so -feelingly that before they knew it all three of them were in tears. - -[Illustration: “I’LL GIVE YOU THIS PONY, HARNESS AND WAGON IF YOU’LL -LET ME HAVE BILLY.”] - -By far the most touching good-bye was that of little Dick. He and -Billy had been the greatest friends from the first. The big goat had -drawn the red wagon with Dick aboard ever since the little chap was -big enough to sit up. Never once had he run away with him or spilled -him out. More than that, Billy Whiskers and Bob had saved Dick from -drowning, as you remember, when he tumbled off the bank into the -swimming hole down by the wood lot. So when Dick came to say farewell -to Billy it seemed as though he could not let him go, and the manager -was really afraid that Dick would back out of his bargain or, what -was worse, that Billy Whiskers would refuse to stay behind his little -master. But finally Mrs. Treat took matters in hand and soon effected a -parting. - -Tom, Dick and Harry climbed into the wagonette behind the beautiful -chestnut pony, now Dick’s property, and drove away to the gun store -where Mr. Treat promised to meet them and buy the new guns. - -Billy Whiskers’ friends at Cloverleaf Farm were astonished that evening -when the boys drove into the yard in their gay rig drawn by the -beautiful pony. They looked in vain for Billy Whiskers. - -“I’m going to see what this means at once,” said Abbie, the black cat, -who, in spite of the fact that she had swelled her tail, hunched up -her back and scolded when Billy had asked her about the Circus, was at -heart very fond of him. She now displayed such gentle manners, purred -so softly and asked questions in such a winning way that she soon had -the whole story from the pony and lost no time in telling it. - -The friends of Billy Whiskers held a meeting that same evening in which -each one told of his very high esteem of him. Afterward resolutions of -respect were unanimously passed by a standing vote. - -They all acted as though they never expected to see Billy again. If -this was their idea, they were never more mistaken in their lives. - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE KIDNAPPERS FOILED - - -After his friends from Cloverleaf Farm left him, Billy Whiskers lay -down to rest and think matters over. The monkeys, who had been keeping -a sharp eye on him all the time, formed in a ring around him. They had -no idea of letting the friend who had opened the door of their cage, -and whom they had chosen their leader on the spot get away from them -now. - -When it looked as though the Treat family might take him back to -Cloverleaf Farm, they had quickly decided among themselves that if he -went they would go too. This, of course, would have led to no end of -trouble and confusion. Just imagine what would have happened if Billy -had returned with such a drab following as that. - -At first Billy Whiskers thought that he never could go to sleep with -the monkeys all about him. He was not used to them yet and still -thought that they were the ugliest looking creatures in the world. He -didn’t want to hurt their feelings by asking them to go away and give -him a little peace. It would never do to offend them now, he thought, -so he just shut his eyes, and as he had a great deal to think over, -soon forgot all about them. - -“Well, this certainly has been a great day, so far,” said Billy to -himself. It seemed a very long time since he had stolen away from home -in the early morning, and he ran over quickly in his mind the events -that finally culminated in his unexpectedly finding himself at the head -of a troupe of amazing acrobatic performers, taking a leading part in -the performance of one of the greatest shows on earth. - -“And where am I now?” went on Billy, still talking to himself. “I -hardly know yet. The manager evidently thinks because he gave Dick that -pony and treated the rest of the family so handsomely that I am his -property for the rest of the summer. May be I am and may be I am not. -It all depends how I am served and whether or no I like the business -on better acquaintance with it. I’ll try it for awhile at any rate. -It looks to me now as though I might have a lot of fun out of it. I -have been living pretty quietly at Cloverleaf for a long time, and I -suspect that I am getting rusty and beginning to look more or less like -a farmer. I’m too young for that yet awhile. - -“This position will give me a chance to see no end of new places. I -can get well acquainted with all the animals, and perhaps I can do -something to make their lives pleasanter--I will if I can, but I must -be careful never to go as close to any of their cages as I did to the -monkeys’ this afternoon. What if it had been the lion’s cage instead, -there would be no Billy Whiskers here now.” - -The very thought of it made him tremble all over. - -[Illustration] - -“And then there is the big elephant. I wonder what he thinks of me -now. I hope he saw me in the ring and knows that I really do amount to -something. If not, he must suppose I am a dunce for having thought his -trunk a hitching strap,” and Billy giggled to himself again at the very -remembrance of that mistake. - -With pleasant thoughts and plans like these Billy Whiskers finally fell -asleep. - -It did not seem to him that he had much more than closed his eyes when -he was aroused by one of the keepers who said to his helper that it -was time to prepare the big goat for the evening performance, that the -manager had said that he was to be given a bath. - -At first Billy was far from pleased at being disturbed. He was still -sleepy, and he felt that about the last thing he wanted then was a bath. - -Just at that moment he happened to glance at his right side and saw how -gray with dust he was. He knew too by past experiences how much good a -bath would do him. It was worth more than a night’s rest, he had often -said. More than that, Billy was very proud of his appearance, as we all -know, and he now felt not a little ashamed that he had been seen in the -ring in the afternoon in such an unkempt condition. - -“If they call me handsome with all this dirt on me, what will they -think when I am spick and span?” - -So Billy decided to make no trouble, but to submit to the bath without -a rumpus. - -It was lucky he did for otherwise he would have been kidnapped and -there is no telling what might have become of him. - -This is the way that it happened. Billy thought that the voice of -the man who awakened him sounded familiar but he couldn’t remember -at the time where he had heard it before. When his helper called him -Mike he knew in a minute when and where. This was the very same man -who had been looking for him when he was hiding in the big pine box -after creating such a disturbance by jumping off Jumbo’s back onto the -freaks’ platform. - -Not thinking that Billy Whiskers knew enough to understand what they -were saying, they talked freely and made their plans while his bath was -in progress. - -“You were right, Mike, in thinking this big goat a very valuable piece -of property,” said Jim, for that was the helper’s name. “I only wish we -had found him.” - -“Yes, if we had, and could have hidden him away for a day or two, we -could have sold him to the manager for a big pile of money.” - -“Just think of the fun we would have had with three or four hundred -dollars apiece! That pony with his gold-plated harness and the dandy -wagon that the old man gave the little fellow must have cost all of -that, to say nothing of the price of the two guns and the wad of money -for the owner and his wife. It’s a sorry day for us when we let this -goat slip through our fingers. It almost seems as though he was our -property now.” - -Mike thought hard for several minutes before answering. A wicked scheme -was shaping itself in his mind. - -“You are right, Jim, he is our property, and if you will help me, we’ll -have him yet. I’ve thought it all out. It is plain to be seen that the -old man, as you call the manager, expects you and me to take care of -his nibs here and that will give us just the chance we need. We won’t -lose any time about it either, for it will be easier to get away with -him now than later. - -“Tonight, when we come to load up, instead of putting Billy Whiskers -in a car, we’ll nail him up in a box and leave him on the station -platform. You and I will stay behind with him. As soon as the train -pulls out, we’ll take him and start in the other direction. Later on -we can decide what is best to do. Either we can start a show of our -own with Billy Whiskers as the main attraction, or we can take him to -Ringling Brothers and get our own price for him.” - -“All right,” said Jim, “I’m with you. It looks good to me. We are both -of us sick of this old show anyway. The Ringlings will hear about the -goat and monkey act and have to put something on to match it. It’s -lucky for us that they are no further away than Dayton. My idea is that -we had better sell the goat and skip to New York or Chicago as soon as -we can. There is sure to be a row when he is missed. I don’t believe -these monkeys will act for cold beans when their leader is gone.” - -“You be around handy tonight to help me box his goatship. He’ll -probably make no trouble for it’s all new to him, but whether he does -or not, he’s got to do as we want and it will be best for us to work -together.” - -“Just look at him now! He is a beauty. I wouldn’t believe that soap and -water could make such a change in him.” - -“Yes, and wait until I have combed out his hair and beard and polished -his horns,” said the now enthusiastic Jim. “Ringlings will give a -thousand dollars for this goat, or I miss my guess.” - -As Mike and Jim now felt that every good point and new beauty they -found in Billy Whiskers meant just so much more money in their pockets, -you can well see why they took so much trouble to make him look his -best. - -In the meanwhile Billy Whiskers was considering the new danger that now -confronted him. For several very good reasons he had no intentions of -letting Mike and Jim get away with him. - -To begin with, he didn’t like either of them. More than that, the -Circus manager had paid his friends of Cloverleaf Farm a handsome sum -for allowing Billy to stay with him, and finally, he felt sure of rich -food, kind treatment, constant excitement, growing fame and a return -to his old home at the end of the season. To be sure, on the other -hand, the association with the monkeys was not much to his liking, but -as they felt very grateful to him and were evidently kindly disposed, -Billy knew that he had the upper hands of them and he felt that as long -as that situation lasted he could stand it. - -“I’ll do this,” decided Billy. “When it comes time to go, I will make -these monkeys insist that I ride with them in their cage. In the -meantime I will tell them all about the danger that threatens me and -fix it up with them that when Mike and Jim try to get me away they are -all to pitch on to that precious pair of thieves and give them a lesson -that they will not soon forget.” - -Billy laughed softly to himself as he thought of the trouble he had -cooked for his enemies. - -There was an hour or more before it came time for Billy and his band -to repeat the performance of the afternoon. He improved it by telling -Colonel Blue Nose Mandrill and the rest of the scheme that had been -hatched to kidnap him, and you can easily believe that he had no -trouble in getting the monkeys to agree to his plan to thwart it. In -fact, Billy had to specially caution them not to go too far. Colonel -Mandrill said right away that he would fix at least one of them so that -he would never try to steal one of his friends again, while the rest -declared that they would see to it that the other did not escape. They -all looked so fierce that Billy thought once more of old Mr. Coon’s -horror of monkeys, and remembered how he felt when old Blue Nose had -him by the neck and beard and threatened to pull him into his cage even -if he was smashed into a pulp in the process. - -“Don’t kill them,” said Billy, in a hurry. “But you may scare them out -of their wits. They deserve it.” - -“I’ll see how I feel at the time,” muttered Colonel Mandrill, and Billy -couldn’t get any more of a promise out of him than that. All the rest, -however, promised not to go too far. - -By this time the moment had arrived for Billy and the monkeys to go -into the ring. - -People who had been present in the afternoon had spread the news of -the astonishing last act. Many of them had returned to see it a second -time, and there was a vast crowd all told, very many of whom were -interested chiefly in it. Under such circumstances, it is needless to -say that the appearance of the goat and his monkeys was greeted by -deafening bursts of applause. - -Billy, after his bath, both looked and felt fine. The monkeys, too, -were rested and glad of an opportunity to repeat, with variations, the -feats of the afternoon. - -The manager, who had been feeling very nervous for fear that his new -performers could not be depended upon, was vastly relieved at the way -the act started off, and his smiling face soon told how pleased he was -to find that his fears were groundless. - -At the end of fifteen minutes, out came Billy on the back of the big -black charger followed by his weary and panting but none the less happy -band. The monkeys did not seem to object in the least to the fact that -Billy worked them almost to death. - -If the crowd of spectators had been enthusiastic in the afternoon, they -were vociferous in their applause in the evening. Such cheering and -hand-clapping had never been heard in the big tent before. - -“It means,” said the manager, talking the matter over with the -treasurer, “that this will be the biggest money-making season this -show has ever known. Now is the time for us both to ask for a good big -increase in our pay.” No wonder he was pleased. - -Soon all was noise, bustle and confusion. The time had come to pack up -and get aboard the train preparatory to going to the next city. - -The question where and with whom Billy Whiskers was to ride soon came -up for settlement. As he had expected, Mike and Jim were told to take -care of him and see to it that he had the best of everything. - -“We’ll put him in a big box by himself for tonight,” proposed Mike, -“and after this a place can be fixed for him in the car with the -Shetland ponies.” - -“All right,” returned the manager, “but take care that he goes through -in good shape. I wouldn’t take ten thousand dollars for that goat right -now. He’ll be worth ten times that money to this show before the end of -the season.” - -Billy, who was keenly watching, saw Mike wink at Jim when this -was said. It made him anxious for he knew it would make them more -determined to steal him than ever. During the excitement of the -performance, he had forgotten all about their scheme, but now it came -back to him in a hurry and he wondered if he had been wise in trusting -his personal safety altogether to Colonel Mandrill and his family. - -“Well, it’s too late now to make any new plans,” thought Billy. “If the -monkeys can’t save me, I’m lost to this show. But if Mike and Jim think -that they can do as they please with me, even if they succeed in boxing -me up and leaving me on the depot platform, they are mightily mistaken. -I’ll show them a thing or two that they don’t seem to know. For a -penny, I’d start in right now. It seems just as though it would feel -good and rest my head to butt into big Mike.” But he thought better of -it and resolved to wait. - -[Illustration] - -By this time the monkeys’ big cage was standing ready for them to get -into it, but not one of them showed any disposition to take the hint. -Mike and Jim, who were given charge of them also, coaxed and coaxed in -vain. Finally one of them caught Tittlebat Titmouse--that was the big -name of the smallest monkey--and put him inside though he resisted with -all his tiny might. But he wouldn’t stay put. Out he popped as soon as -the hand that held him let him go. - -Finally Billy Whiskers jumped in and all the rest followed. - -This delay made the monkey cage the last of all to get started. There -was need to hurry. So Mike and Jim decided that they would put off -boxing Billy up until they reached the station. They felt sure that -there would be a chance in the darkness and confusion that there -always was when loading the cars. The box they planned to put him in -was carried to the train on the top of the big cage. Jim drove to the -darkest and most out-of-the-way place he could that they might the less -likely be interrupted in carrying out their wicked scheme. - -Pretty soon after the wagon came to a halt, Mike appeared at the door -of the cage. At first he called Billy Whiskers softly, and seemed -greatly pleased to find him laying right by the cage door. - -“It makes it just as easy as can be,” Billy heard him say. “You open -the door, Jim, and I will yank him out. Shut and lock it as quick as -ever you can and then help me, for I may need it.” - -“You may indeed,” thought Billy. He could just make out to see that his -friends, the monkeys, were wide awake and ready to do the parts agreed -upon. - -The bolt was softly withdrawn and the cage door swung noiselessly open. -Mike’s great arm followed by his head and shoulders were thrust inside -the cage. Billy felt himself firmly grasped about the waist and in -another second he would have been dragged out and on the ground, but -just in the nick of season the long thin arm of Colonel Mandrill shot -out once more, but this time it grasped not Billy Whiskers but the -neck of Mike, the keeper. We already know from Billy Whiskers’ former -experience the terrible strength of old Blue Nose’s right arm. Mike was -learning it now. He let go Billy and pulled and tore at the thing that -was tightening about his throat. He would have called to Jim but could -make no sound. He tried to pull away but all in vain. - -Jim, of course, very soon discovered that there was something wrong. He -crowded in by the side of Mike to find out what it might be. Quicker -than it takes to tell it, a dozen lean arms, big and little, had -grabbed him wherever they could lay hold, and in two seconds he was as -helpless as Mike. - -Billy did not try to interfere for a minute or two. Then he took -matters in hand. He commanded Colonel Blue Nose to let go, but he did -not obey. He ordered the other monkeys to drop Jim, but they followed -old Blue Nose’s bad example. - -Billy was now frightened for the lives of the two men. He didn’t want -to be responsible for their deaths in such a dreadful way. He reminded -the monkeys that they had chosen him their leader and once more ordered -them to give over their prey. At this Colonel Mandrill reluctantly -obeyed and Mike dropped limp and insensible at the side of the cage. -The others followed the example of old Blue Nose and Jim fell by the -side of his pal in no better condition. - -Billy and the monkeys might now have made their escape. They even spoke -of it, but all were of the opinion that they were being treated too -well at the time and the prospects of fun were too good to think of -taking such a step just then. They agreed among themselves that they -might consider the subject later on if things did not go to suit them. - -Presently Mike began to collect his scattered senses. They laughed in -the cage when they heard him grunting and groaning. - -Just then he evidently touched Jim who was also coming to, for they -heard them whispering together. It would seem that they were both -thanking their lucky stars that they had escaped with their lives. - -“We’ll have to give it up,” Mike was heard to say. “Those monkeys are -sure holy terrors and they will never surrender the great goat. I know -there’s big money in him, but he ain’t for us, Jim,” and Jim agreed. - -Someone was calling to them to hurry up with the monkey cage and with -more grunting and groaning they got to their feet and drove up the -inclined plane onto the car. Soon they were rumbling along to the next -place where the great show was to exhibit. - -Billy Whiskers, in the cage with the monkeys, fell asleep wondering -what the coming days could have in store for him. - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE WRECK - - -Billy Whiskers was now fairly launched on his career in the big show -that made him more famous than ever before. From the lordly way he -ruled the monkeys he was soon everywhere known as “King Billy,” though -he never liked that proud title as well as plain Billy Whiskers. - -It was not long before the billboards were covered with life-size -pictures of himself and his troupe. When he gazed for the first time in -his life, but a short time since, at those wonderful show pictures at -The Corners, he little dreamed that he would ever have such an honor. -The Circus manager was quick to see what a drawing card Billy was and -of course made the very most of it by advertising him far and wide. - -On the whole, he liked his new life. The grand parade, on pleasant -mornings, was always a delightful experience. - -Looking his very best, he rode on the back of Jumbo, the great -elephant, (Billy and he were soon the best of friends), at the head -of the procession, while his monkey band, who were always imitating -his example when they possibly could, rode on the backs of the other -elephants. How the crowds shouted and cheered and laughed as they moved -by! It was all music in Billy’s ears, and it seemed to him that he -could never tire of it. - -[Illustration] - -The afternoon and evening performances furnished two more opportunities -each day for Billy and the monkeys to show themselves to vast and -always admiring audiences. - -[Illustration: HE RODE ON THE BACK OF JUMBO, THE GREAT ELEPHANT.] - -The manager of the Circus was never better pleased than at his great -luck at having secured such an attraction. It was proving, as he -had foretold, the best-paying season in all the long and successful -history of the great Show. For this reason, as one can easily see, -he made things as pleasant as he possibly could for Billy. Both he -and the monkeys were furnished all the time with the things that they -liked best to eat, and nothing was left undone that could add to their -comfort and enjoyment. - -The Circusman felt in his bones that King Billy was a very independent -person who might at any time, if things did not go to suit him, kick -out of the traces and there was no telling what might happen then. The -monkeys, without him to lead them, would not be worth their salt as -actors. There had been convincing proof of this one day when Billy was -so sick that he could not lead them into the ring on account of having -eaten too much ice cream with chocolate dressing the night before. - -The audience was so disappointed that there came near being a riot and -a great many demanded their money back. - -After that great pains were taken with Billy’s diet, and his health was -most carefully guarded. - -Mike and Jim continued to have the care of Billy. After their first -experience in trying to kidnap him, described in the last chapter, they -never attempted anything of the sort again. As a matter of fact they -soon became very much attached to their charges and took a great deal -of pride in seeing that they always looked their best, both when they -were on parade and when they entered the ring. - -A rival circus sent two desperate characters to try and poison Billy -because he was drawing all the money and their business was very bad -in consequence. Mike caught these two fellows putting paris green in -Billy’s salad one night. With the help of Jim he held them both until -assistance came and the would-be murderers were turned over to the -police. - -When the manager heard of this he complimented the keepers on their -watchfulness and doubled their pay. Billy was grateful to them too. He -forgave the attempt they had made to steal him, and after that they -were always good friends. - -During the summer the big Circus visited the large cities and towns of -most of the western states, going as far west as Denver, Colorado. It -then turned eastward once more, and Billy began to feel that he was -homeward bound. This made him very happy, for he had not forgotten -or ceased to love his old friends at Cloverleaf Farm. While he liked -the excitement, high living and luxury of his present life and had -become very good friends both with his keepers and with many of the -wild animals in the cages whose hard lot he was always trying to make -pleasanter, still they were never to him quite like home folks. - -There was nobody who took the place of little Dick. He knew by this -time that he could never again make so dear a friend. Then there were -old Bob, Abbie (the black cat), the bay colt and other horses, Big -Red, the fierce bull, and his wives, and--for spice and variety--the -thievish old Coon down in the big chestnut, not forgetting Polly -Parrot, sharp and snappish though she certainly was. Billy was -beginning to think of them all more and more often, and the wish to see -them and be with them again was growing greater day by day. - -While spending a Sunday in St. Louis late in September, he addressed a -letter to his friend Bob at Cloverleaf Farm. - -As it presents very clearly his frame of mind at this time, and throws -many sidelights on his circus life, it is here given in full. - - St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 27, 1908. - - Dear Bob and Other Home Friends:-- - - I hope that you have not been thinking that because I ran away to see - the Circus at Springfield without saying good-bye to every one of you - I do not care for you. If so, you were never more mistaken in your - lives. It cost me a great deal of pain to do as I did. You little know - how much real grief I felt the evening before I started when I went - around and called on you all. I did not forget how you had taken me - in and befriended me when I was poor and hungry and sick and lame and - alone, nor was I then nor shall I ever be unmindful of or ungrateful - for your great kindness at that time. No, dear Bob and all the rest of - you, you made a friend of Billy Whiskers then who will be true to you - as long as he lives. - - Nor must you think that because I have not written to you before this - summer that my new business and friends have driven you out of my mind - for even a little while. How often I think of you all, and every day I - wish more and more that I was with you once again. - - As you have no doubt heard, it has been a great time for me. I wish - you could see what I have to do every day. You would be proud then - that Billy Whiskers is one of your acquaintances. They tell me that I - am famous and I judge that such is the case from the way the crowds - cheer every time they see me. - - Don’t think that I have become vain and conceited when I tell you - that I was never looking so handsome and distinguished as now. Owing - doubtless to the great quantity of rich food that I eat daily I have - put on more flesh, which improves my figure. Both my hair and beard - are longer, whiter and silkier than ever before, while my horns and - hoofs are manicured daily. - - I try not to be proud and stuck up and never lose a chance of doing a - kindness for the wretched wild animals that are shut up in their cages - month after month. Just think how dreadful their lives must be. I - wish I could tell you all about them but I haven’t time now. Wait till - I am home again, then I shall have many strange tales to tell about - the lions, and tigers, and wolves, and bears, and all the rest. Some - of them are so ferocious that even now the sound of their deep voices - makes me tremble. - - Speaking of home reminds me that the time is not now far distant when - I shall be with you once more. Only the thought of it makes me very - happy. - - There is just one thing that keeps bothering me. I do not know how I - am ever to get away from the monkeys who have chosen me their leader - and declare that they will never leave me and that I shall never leave - them. While my success in the show business is very largely due to - them and I can have no doubt of their fondness for me, I may say to - you--but you must never tell it--that I have never been able to like - them very much. I do not forget the dreadful fright they gave me at - first (it’s a long story and I can’t stop to tell it now) and I just - expect they would treat me in the same way again if they suspected - that I thought of leaving them. They are certainly the worst looking - creatures I ever saw, and some of their manners are little short of - disgusting. I shall have to be very sly when the time comes. - - This letter is already too long though I haven’t told you half of what - I want to. - - I hope that little Dick and the boys are well and that the chestnut - pony has not entirely taken my place in their hearts. - - With best love to all, - - Sincerely yours, - - Billy Whiskers. - - P. S.--Keep your eyes peeled and you will see me some bright morning - before long. - -From St. Louis, where Billy Whiskers wrote to his home friends, the big -show moved steadily eastward; by the latter part of October it was once -more in Ohio and not so very far from Farmersville, near which, you -will remember, Cloverleaf Farm is located. - -On the night of the thirtieth, when the show train was running between -Hamilton and Zanesville, a head-end collision took place which threw -most of the cars containing the animals off the track and down an -embankment, piling them up one on the other in the utmost confusion. -The frightened and tortured beasts, as well as their keepers, made the -most fearful outcry that was ever heard. - -For a long time the people who came to the rescue were afraid to -approach the wreck lest a lion or a tiger or some other man-eating -animal might find his cage burst open and make his escape, killing and -devouring everybody that came in his way. - -Fortunately Billy Whiskers and the monkeys were not killed or badly -injured, though terribly shaken up and frightened almost to death. - -As soon as Billy collected his wits and began to look about, he -discovered that not only was the car in which he was riding smashed -open, but that the jar and up-set had shaken the pin fastening the door -of the big monkey cage out of place so that it was easy for him to get -out. - -“Now is my time,” he quickly decided. “I can’t do any good here, and -while this racket keeps up I can get away. The monkeys are too scared -and dazed to see what I am up to, and they will not think of following -me now anyway. As good luck will have it, I am not very far from -Cloverleaf Farm, and I know I can find my way there.” - -So he stole out of the overturned cage and car, picked his way as -noiselessly and quickly as he could through the ruins, and started on -a dead run for the protecting cover of a wood lot which he discovered -not far off. It was not so dark but that he could make out its faint -outline. - -All unknown to Billy, there followed behind him a silent procession of -dim and quiet figures, twelve in number. They were the monkeys pursuing -their leader. - -When he reached the wood, Billy stopped to rest and to take stock of -his plight, whereabouts and plans. - -Like shadows, the monkeys quickly gathered in a circle around him. - -“Now, Billy Whiskers,” began old Blue Nose in his most dreaded tone, -“will you please explain to me and my family what you mean by skipping -out with no word to any of your band? While we may never have told you -in so many words, you know very well what sort of punishment we reserve -for a deserter. Speak!” - -Although Billy was startled and had great difficulty in finding his -voice, he was sharp enough to know that his fate now depended on -lulling the suspicions of the monkeys. So he said: - -“Colonel Mandrill, Tittlebat Titmouse and all the rest of you, I was -never so glad in my life to see anyone as I am you now. I observe -that you have all escaped that frightful wreck unhurt. After the -collision, I was so shaken to pieces and frightened, while the din was -so ear-splitting, without thinking a thing what I was doing, I started -and ran. As you have seen, I stopped just as soon as I came to a safe -place. Before now, if you hadn’t have come, I should be on my way back -to hunt for you.” - -“I hope I may be forgiven for that tale,” added Billy under his breath. - -The older monkeys whispered together for a short time, evidently trying -to decide whether or not this plausible story was to be believed. -Although it was manifest that there was a difference of opinion, the -majority were in favor of accepting the explanation as true and this -decision was quickly made known, to Billy’s great relief. - -“I’ve just been thinking,” then said Billy, “that we will never have a -better chance to escape than now. We are not a great many miles from my -dear old home at Cloverleaf Farm which I have told you about so often. -I think I can find the way. If we are agreed to the plan, I will try -and lead you there.” - -This proposal led to another consultation, and while not very -enthusiastic about it, the monkeys shortly said that they would go. - -As no time was to be lost, they started north at once, keeping in the -shadow of the woods. - -“A nice time I’ll have introducing this crumby looking crowd to my -friends at Cloverleaf,” mused Billy. “I wonder what the Coon will say,” -and the very thought made him laugh. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -HOME AGAIN - - -By this time it was about three o’clock in the morning. There were two -good hours before daylight, and the time was improved by travelling as -fast as possible. Billy and his party kept within the woods wherever -possible, the monkeys, for the most part, staying in the trees, leaping -from one to another, which is the way they get about in their native -forests. They can travel much faster that way than on the ground. They -all enjoyed the freedom they were experiencing for the first time in -years very greatly, and were in the best of spirits. - -The racket their chattering made was so loud that Billy had to caution -them about it for fear they might attract attention, and this they did -not want to do. - -It was easy to imagine what was sure to happen if anyone discovered -that there was a drove of monkeys loose in the woods. The whole -community would be quickly aroused and a big hunt started. By all means -discovery of this sort must be avoided. - -As soon as signs of daylight began to appear in the east, Billy looked -about for a good place to hide during the day where they would all be -safe and could rest in peace and quiet until night came again when the -journey could be resumed. - -It so happened that they were at this time following the course of a -little river which ran between steep banks of great rocks. Billy’s -sharp eyes soon detected an opening between two of these large enough -for him to go in, so in he went. To his surprise, this opening grew -in size as he advanced until shortly he found himself in a dark cave -as big as a large room. There couldn’t have been a better place for -them to spend the day. A little brook ran through the cave so that the -supply of good water was abundant. - -It was plain to be seen from the bones scattered about that sometime -this cave had been the home of wild animals, probably wolves or -bears, but there were no signs of recent occupation, so Billy was not -disturbed by any fears. - -Going out, he hastily summoned the monkeys and told them of his -fortunate discovery of a good hiding-place and bade them to lose no -time in getting out of sight as it would soon be broad daylight. This -they did in a hurry, Colonel Mandrill leading the way. - -You might suppose that by this time they must have all been very hungry -and so they would but that on their way during the night, they had -passed through many fields where there was plenty of corn and pumpkins, -through orchards where the boughs of the trees were bending beneath -their weight of beautiful, ripe apples, through cabbage patches -and fields of turnips. All the time they had helped themselves to -everything they wanted. - -If they were not hungry, they were certainly tired. The excitement of -the railroad wreck and the unusual exertions of a two hours’ tramp -were enough to bring weariness to even the youngest and friskiest of -the monkeys. Soon it was quiet in the cave except for the snoring of -Colonel Mandrill who never could sleep quietly. - -Evening had come before even Billy Whiskers, who had the responsibility -of the expedition on his hands, roused from his deep, refreshing -slumbers. He supposed from the silence all about him that all the -others were still sleeping. As it was dark in the cave he could not -tell whether it was day or night, so he thought he would slip out and -take a look around when he could decide whether or not it was safe to -start out. With this wise plan in mind, he made his noiseless way very -nearly to the entrance of the cave, when--for the last time in this -story--the long arm of Colonel Mandrill darted forth and nabbed him -hard and fast. - -“No you don’t, Billy Whiskers, for I have caught you again! It’s -my belief that you have planned to sneak off and leave us here by -ourselves. If I really thought so, I’d fix you here and now so you -could never play us such a trick again. What have you got to say for -yourself?” - -“It’s no such thing,” answered Billy, mad through and through at this -unjust suspicion, but scared at the same time. “I was just going out -for a minute to see what time it is. This cave is so dark that I can’t -tell anything about it. If you don’t believe me, you can come too.” - -“I will,” grimly answered old Blue Nose. - -Outside they found that the sun was already down and that it was fast -growing dark. - -Billy Whiskers and Colonel Mandrill agreed that it would be safe to -start as soon as the other monkeys were awake and ready. - -“I think,” said Billy, “that this little river here is the Tuscarawas. -If so, I know my way and we shall have no difficulty in finding -Cloverleaf Farm. By travelling fast, if we are not stopped or hindered, -we should be there by three or four o’clock in the morning.” - -With that encouraging prospect before them, they started in good -spirits. In a surprisingly short time it seemed, Billy Whiskers began -to look about for familiar landmarks. - -In the distance to the left, he discovered a group of buildings which -he made out to be The Corners where he had first learned about the -Circus and seen the billboards. A little later he saw and recognized -the big chestnut tree where Mr. Coon lived. - -“We’ll make for that,” thought Billy. “If the old marauder is out and -comes home to find a lot of monkeys perched in his tree he’ll think he -is having the worst nightmare that ever horrified a healthy coon. How I -shall laugh at the sight of him!” - -[Illustration: TOM AND HARRY INVITED THEM TO THE HOUSE.] - -Billy didn’t dream of the tragedy he was about to witness. - -Soon they had come to the big chestnut tree, and the monkeys, without -being told, quickly climbed into its lofty branches, waiting for Billy -to decide on the next move. - -While he was considering how he could best put in his unexpected -appearance at Cloverleaf Farm, he thought he saw two figures of what -seemed to be small boys hiding behind a clump of blackberry bushes not -very far away. They came shortly after he arrived and evidently did not -see either him or the monkeys. - -He was right, for Tom and Harry Treat had come out with their guns to -try and get a shot at Mr. Coon, who of late, it seems, had been very -bold and had acquired the very bad habit of robbing the hen roost at -Cloverleaf. Only the night before he had imprudently selected for his -midnight supper the finest young white Leghorn rooster on the place. -This was the more provoking because the boys had expected to enter this -same rooster at the county fair to be held the next week. The Coon had -now gone too far in his depredations and it was decided to put an end -to him at whatever cost of time and trouble. This explains why they -were watching with their guns at this time of night the old chestnut -tree, for it was well known to be the Coon’s house. - -[Illustration] - -Presently a scratching inside the trunk of the tree might have been -heard and very soon the head of the ill-fated Coon appeared at the -door of his house. He crawled lazily out on the great limb near at -hand and was about to scratch himself, as was his wont, when he espied -one of the monkeys. He couldn’t believe his own eyes, so he winked -hard and looked again. Instead of one, he now saw a whole group of his -archenemies here and there and everywhere, all silently watching him, -Colonel Mandrill the nearest to him of all. With that he closed both -eyes and toppled off the big limb to the ground. Just then two shots -rang out on the still air, and at the same time both Tom and Harry -rushed forward to make sure that the Coon did not even yet get away. -He was dead. There could be no doubt of that, but no mark of a bullet -was found upon him. At the unexpected sight of the monkeys, his old and -most-dreaded enemies, he had perished of heart failure. - -While the boys were wondering how it was that the Coon had died while -the bullets from neither of their guns had touched him to their -increased amazement and utter astonishment, Billy Whiskers appeared -before them, coming from the other side of the great chestnut trunk. - -On the part of each there was every indication of joy at the unexpected -reunion. - -In the meantime the monkeys had climbed down from their lofty perches -and, according to their custom, silently formed a circle about their -leader and his friends. When the boys saw them they thought that -wonders would never cease. - -It would be too much to say that they were not a little frightened at -first, but as soon as they saw that Billy Whiskers took it as a matter -of course and recognized who the monkeys were, they invited them all to -come with Billy to the house, assuring them of a cordial welcome. - -On the way, Colonel Mandrill told Billy that the wicked Coon had -doubtless died of heart disease brought on by the sight of him and -his family, and explained that this same Coon had travelled with their -Circus three summers before, that he had been placed in their cage and -that they had no end of fun with him. - -“Of course,” went on the Colonel, “the more he hated our teasing and -the crosser he grew, the better we enjoyed the sport.” - -Finally, it appeared, “old ring tail,” as the monkeys called the -Coon, had made his escape just in time to save himself from nervous -prostration. They had never expected to see him again. - -By the time this story was finished, they had reached the barnyard. It -was then between five and six o’clock of the beautiful October morning. -The animals were just beginning to move about. Billy Whiskers was so -excited that he could hardly contain himself. The first of his old -friends he encountered was old Bob, the big Newfoundland dog. Their -happy greeting was most enthusiastic. Like wildfire the news spread -that Billy Whiskers had come home, and all his friends rushed to -welcome him. They were all present, including Mr. and Mrs. Treat and -little Dick. - -What rejoicings there were! Even the monkeys were treated well on his -account, though it must be confessed that it was with difficulty that -aversion and suspicion of them were concealed. - -Mr. Treat said that they would soon learn all about it. In this he was -right for the city paper brought in by the rural delivery man that day -gave a full account of the wrecked railroad train and told how, in the -hubbub, the famous Billy Whiskers and his trained monkeys had escaped. -In another place there was a big announcement offering a reward of -twenty-five hundred dollars for the safe capture of the runaways. - -[Illustration] - -Mr. Treat, without telling any of the family, at once drove to the -nearest telegraph office and wired the manager that the lost animals -were all safe at Cloverleaf Farm. - -The following morning the Circusman with Mike and Jim appeared on the -scene. - -It was soon arranged that Billy’s engagement was considered closed. -Owing to the lateness of the season and the serious wreck, the show -would at once go into winter quarters. The only difficulty was to -induce the monkeys to go, leaving Billy behind. It was finally -decided to build on the big lumber wagon a strong removable cage. When -finished, Billy, to whom the scheme had been explained, jumped in at -once and the monkeys followed. At the other end of the cage two of the -bars had been fixed so that one of them could be dropped down and the -other raised up thus making a hole big enough for Billy to get through. - -When all the monkeys were in, Mike and Jim made the opening for Billy -and out he popped before the rest knew what was up. They then made an -awful outcry and tore around like all possessed, but it did no good. - -Billy got out of sight and sound as soon as he could, for though he did -not love the monkeys and they were more mad than sad at parting with -him, still, on the whole, they had had good times together and been a -great help to each other. - -“I feel about parting with the monkeys a good deal as I do about old -Mr. Coon. Though I know he richly deserved his fate, it makes me blue -to think about it. It was a disgrace to be an acquaintance of his, but -I can’t help admitting that he was often entertaining company. It’s the -same way with the monkeys.” - -With the reward money received for the return of the monkeys to their -owners, Mr. Treat bought one of the automobiles that were then just -beginning to be introduced for use in the country. This pleased the -boys greatly. Beside that he put a thousand dollars away to be used -for Tom, Dick, and Harry’s education when they were older. - -And so, for the present, we will leave Billy Whiskers at home again, -more admired and famous than ever before, enjoying as he had never done -in the old days the peace and plenty of Cloverleaf Farm, surrounded by -a host of good friends and many interests. - - -THE END. - - - - -_The_ - -Billy Whiskers Series - -[Illustration: SAALFIELD] - -[Illustration] - - _By - Frances - Trego - Montgomery_ - -[Illustration] - -The antics of frolicsome Billy Whiskers, that adventuresome goat Mrs. -Montgomery writes about in these stories make all the boys and girls -chuckle--and every story that is issued about him is pronounced by them -“better than the last.” - - -TITLES IN SERIES - - 1. Billy Whiskers - 2. Billy Whiskers’ Kids - 3. Billy Whiskers, Junior - 4. Billy Whiskers’ Travels - 5. Billy Whiskers at the Circus - 6. Billy Whiskers at the Fair - 7. Billy Whiskers’ Friends - 8. Billy Whiskers, Jr., and His Chums - 9. Billy Whiskers’ Grandchildren - 10. Billy Whiskers’ Vacation - 11. Billy Whiskers Kidnaped - 12. Billy Whiskers’ Twins - 13. Billy Whiskers in an Aeroplane - 14. Billy Whiskers in Town - 17. Billy Whiskers at the Exposition - 18. Billy Whiskers Out West - 19. Billy Whiskers in the South - 20. Billy Whiskers in Camp - 21. Billy Whiskers in France - 22. Billy Whiskers’ Adventures - 23. Billy Whiskers in the Movies - 24. Billy Whiskers Out for Fun - 25. Billy Whiskers’ Frolics - 26. Billy Whiskers at Home - 27. Billy Whiskers’ Pranks - - BOUND IN BOARDS - COVER IN COLORS - PROFUSE TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS - FULL-PAGE DRAWINGS IN COLORS - - -THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY--AKRON, OHIO - - - - -BOOKS BY FRANCES TREGO MONTGOMERY - - -The Wonderful Electric Elephant - -[Illustration] - -“A new and fascinating sort of fairy story.”--_Salt Lake Tribune._ - -“A book in which youth will take keen pleasure.”--_The Bookseller._ - -By a fortunate chance Harold Fredericks comes into possession of a -wonderful mechanical elephant so ingeniously contrived that it will -pass for a real animal under even the closest inspection. The interior -is fitted up luxuriously, affording the finest accommodations for -Harold and the traveling companion he secures by another lucky chance. -The boy or girl wanting something new in the story line is sure to find -it in this chronicle. - -CLOTH BOUND, 12MO, PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED, WITH JACKET - - -On a Lark to the Planets - -[Illustration] - -“This sprightly author holds the record for -inventiveness.”--_Philadelphia Item._ - -“The colored illustrations are a feature of delight.”--_Grand Rapids -Herald._ - -“As a book for children, nothing could be more desirable. It is an -assurance of happiness for any young person to be the possessor of -this charming story.” That is the verdict of one critic passing on the -sequel of “The Wonderful Electric Elephant,” which follows the further -fortunes of Harold and Ione as they travel to the planets. - -BOUND IN CLOTH, 12MO, HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED, WITH JACKET - - -Frances and the Irrepressibles at Buena Vista Farm - -[Illustration] - -“Told with a freshness and vivacity that never fails.”--_Charleston -News and Courier._ - -Seven boys and as many girls spend a long summer on a beautiful farm -and because of the pranks of those merry weeks they are dubbed “The -Irrepressibles.” And, best of all, the book is filled to brimming over -with pictures of these real boys and girls. - -ILLUSTRATIONS REPRODUCED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS, CLOTH BOUND - - -THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY--AKRON, OHIO - - - - -BOOKS FOR BOYS - - -The Boy Scout Series - - _By - Major Robert Maitland - and - Colonel George Durston_ - -Where is there the boy not interested in adventure? - -Where the boy not intensely interested in the Boy Scouts too? - -Adventure plus Boy Scouts--there is nothing more to be desired, at -least that is the way the boys feel who have read these stirring tales. - - -TWELVE TITLES - - 1. The Boy Scouts in Camp - 2. The Boy Scouts to the Rescue - 3. The Boy Scouts on the Trail - 4. The Boy Scout Firefighters - 5. The Boy Scouts Afloat - 6. The Boy Scout Pathfinders - 7. The Boy Scout Automobilists - 8. The Boy Scout Aviators - 9. The Boy Scouts’ Champion Recruit - 10. The Boy Scouts’ Defiance - 11. The Boy Scouts’ Challenge - 12. The Boy Scouts’ Victory - -Each Volume A 12MO, With An Attractive Jacket Printed In Colors, Each -$0.25. - - -The Aeroplane Boys Series - -_By Captain Frank Cobb_ - -Valorous deeds on land and sea are all very well--but now come tales -of the air to thrill the boy’s heart. And here are three than which -there are no better. High in the air the heroes fight out their own -salvation--their own and others too, who never would dare the heights. - - BATTLING THE CLOUDS - AN AVIATOR’S LUCK - DANGEROUS DEEDS - -Each Volume A 12MO, With Frontispiece, And Jacket In Colors, Each $0.35. - - -THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY--AKRON, OHIO - - - - -BOOKS FOR GIRLS - - -The Campfire Girls Series - -_By Jane L. Stewart_ - -[Illustration] - -Never was there a Campfire composed of girls more charming than those -claiming membership in the Manasquan Campfire. They just bubble over -with high spirits, and the merry times they have make the best of tales -for every whole-hearted girl who likes life in the great out-of-doors. - -[Illustration] - - -SIX TITLES - - THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS IN THE WOODS - THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS ON THE FARM - THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS AT LONG LAKE - THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS - THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS ON THE MARCH - THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS AT THE SEASHORE - -Each Volume Has A Frontispiece And A Handsome Colored Jacket, Each -$0.50. - - -The Girl Scout Series - -_By Katherine Keene Galt_ - -Rosanna is the altogether lovely and lovable heroine of the three -stories which tell how she became a Girl Scout and what she -accomplished afterward, together with the help of her loyal group of -friends--every one of them as much interested in the Girl Scouts as -Rosanna herself. - - -THREE TITLES - - THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME, or Rosanna’s Beautiful Day - THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY, or Rosanna Wins - THE GIRL SCOUTS TRIUMPH, or Rosanna’s Sacrifice - -Each Volume Has A Frontispiece And A Jacket In Colors, Each $0.35. - - -THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY--AKRON, OHIO - - - - -The Billy Whiskers Game - -No. 280 - -[Illustration] - -A million delighted youngsters have read the - -BILLY WHISKERS BOOKS - -THERE’S A LAUGH ON EVERY PAGE - -The same delighted youngsters (and their parents too) will play the new -board game where Billy DOES all the things the stories tell. - -THERE’S A LAUGH AT EVERY PLAY - -The Billy Whiskers Game - -“_The Game’s The Thing!_” - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BILLY WHISKERS AT THE CIRCUS *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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