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G. Wheeler</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Billy Whiskers at the Circus</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: F. G. Wheeler</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Illustrator: Arthur DeBebian</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June 20, 2021 [eBook #65655]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>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.)</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BILLY WHISKERS AT THE CIRCUS ***</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="50%" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="figcenter"><img id="frontispiece" src="images/frontispiece.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="caption">THE BEARS BEGAN TO PUSH APPLES, CAKES AND PEANUTS<br /> -THROUGH THE BARS OF THE CAGE TO BILLY.</p> - - -<p class="center"><span class="illoright">(<span class="smcap">Page <a href="#Page_75">75</a></span>)</span></p> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/title.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>BILLY WHISKERS<br /> -AT THE CIRCUS</h1> - -<p>BY<br /> - -<span class="large">F. G. WHEELER</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/titlelogo.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p><span class="large"><span class="smcap">Drawings by ARTHUR DeBEBIAN</span></span></p> - -<p><span class="large">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</span><br /> - -NEW YORK <span class="gap"> AKRON, OHIO</span><span class="gap"> CHICAGO</span><br /> - -1913<br /> - -MADE IN U. S. A.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="center">Copyright 1908<br /> - - -by<br /> - -The Saalfield Publishing Co.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/colophon.jpg" alt="" /></div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - - -<tr><td class="tdr"><small>CHAP.</small></td><td> </td><td class="tdr"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">I</td><td> Billy First Hears of the Circus</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_9"> 9</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">II</td><td> Making Preparations</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_17"> 17</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">III</td><td> Billy Whiskers Decides</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_29"> 29</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IV</td><td> On His Way to the Circus</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_39"> 39</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">V</td><td> Going the Rounds</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_51"> 51</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VI</td><td> The Elephant’s Trunk</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_63"> 63</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VII</td><td> Billy in Danger</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_71"> 71</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">VIII</td><td> Chosen Leader</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_81"> 81</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">IX</td><td> Billy Whiskers Joins the Circus</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_93"> 93</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">X</td><td> The Kidnappers Foiled</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105"> 105</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XI</td><td> The Wreck</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_121"> 121</a></td></tr> - -<tr><td class="tdr">XII</td><td> Home Again</td><td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_135"> 135</a></td></tr> -</table> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illodeco.jpg" alt="" /></div> - - -<div class="blockquot"> -<div class="hangingindent"> -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p><a href="#frontispiece">The bears began to push apples, cakes and peanuts through the -bars of the cage to Billy.</a></p> - -<p><a href="#Page_32">The procession finally moved off.</a></p> - -<p><a href="#Page_84">“Quit that!” shouted Billy.</a></p> - -<p><a href="#Page_102">“I’ll give you this pony, harness and wagon if you’ll let me -have Billy.”</a></p> - -<p><a href="#Page_124">He rode on the back of Jumbo, the great elephant.</a></p> - -<p><a href="#Page_140">Tom and Harry invited them to the house.</a></p> -</div></div> -</div></div> - - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/illodeco.jpg" alt="" /></div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> -<p class="ph1"><i>Billy Whiskers at the Circus</i></p> - - - - - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER I<br /> - - -<small>BILLY FIRST HEARS OF THE CIRCUS</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-009.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> -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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-011.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> -near-by field who made no haste, Billy noticed, to pull him out of his -prickly nest.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span></p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-013.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> -along that tells whether he is made of the right kind of -stuff.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>From this you can see what sort of a boy Jack was.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>All the time Billy Whiskers was listening with might and main.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER II<br /> - - -<small>MAKING PREPARATIONS</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-017.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Abbie,” he said, when he found her napping the next morning -on the mat before the front door, “what’s a circus?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>He repeated the question in a louder tone. Still there was<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.)</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Then he got a piece of Abbie’s mind.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-021.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“Billy Whiskers, you are no gentleman. If you were, you -wouldn’t be around here disturbing my rest. You know that I am<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> -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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span>Some people would have been discouraged by this time, but not -so Billy Whiskers.</p> - - - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Billy was just saying these mean things to himself when he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> -spied Miss Polly out in the grape arbor, swinging and chattering.</p> - -<p>“Now is my time,” thought Billy.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“That will fetch her,” thought Billy.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>Billy, without replying, beat a hasty retreat, thankful that he -had not asked Polly Parrot outright about circuses.</p> - -<p>“She is a suspicious old maid,” he said to himself, “and I can’t -afford to fool with her.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> -call on me soon again because I am so old and forgetful.”</p> - - - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-023.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>Billy felt -pretty sure -that the big -Newfoundland -dog, -Bob, could -tell him. Of late they had grown to be the greatest friends,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Bob,” said Billy, “what’s a circus?”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Bob fairly shivered as he recalled the elephant to mind.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span> -striped Coon who lived in the big chestnut tree down in the woods, -so he went down to see him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Coon was at home and a few knocks on the trunk of the tree -with Billy’s horns brought him to the door.</p> - -<p>“Hello, Billy Whiskers,” said the Coon. “What do you want? -Don’t you know that this is my time for sleeping?”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Poor Billy, what could he say? He did not want to associate<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>Billy now answered the Coon’s question by asking another.</p> - -<p>“Mr. Coon, what’s a circus?”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> -talking had he not seen his jaws wagging. This is what he said:</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Billy thought he was going to keel over again, but he didn’t. -Feebly waving his paw in farewell, he slowly withdrew from sight.</p> - -<p>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:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER III<br /> - - -<small>BILLY WHISKERS DECIDES</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-017.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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 -<i>clean</i>, 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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> -accompany him, the latter in his new express wagon drawn by Billy -Whiskers.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-032.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">THE PROCESSION FINALLY MOVED OFF.</p> - - -<p>Billy looked very scrumptious in his silver-plated harness, newly -polished, especially after he was hitched to the new wagon, marked<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> -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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-033.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>The procession finally -moved off with Tom on -one side of Billy and -Harry on the other.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>At The Corners Billy -Whiskers saw for himself the -wonderful bill posters that Tom -had told Jack Wright about.</p> - -<p>The boys spent as much time as they dared looking at them,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> -which gave Billy a good chance to carefully examine the marvelous -sights.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” thought Billy, “he’ll ask me to come and stop with -him.”</p> - -<p>So he wrote and sent in the animal fashion and language the -following well-worded and friendly letter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p class="right">Cloverleaf Farm, June 10th, 1908.</p> - -<p>Terrence Bull Pup, Esq.,<br /> -<span class="indent">Maiden Lane, Springfield, Ohio.</span><br /> -My Dear Friend Terry:—</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span>I trust that this letter finds you well and as handsome as ever.</p> - -<p>A prompt reply will be appreciated by</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="indentright">Faithfully your friend,</span><br /> -Billy Whiskers.</p> -</div> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-037.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>When Terrence Bull Pup received Billy Whiskers’ letter he was -of two minds, both pleased and mad.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.”</p> - - - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>So he wrote as follows:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p class="right">Springfield, June 12th, 1908.</p> - -<p>Dear Bill:</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Of course, if you come to the city to attend the Circus, I shan’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> -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</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="indentright">Your one-time friend,</span><br /> -Terry B. P.</p> -</div> - -<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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IV<br /> - - -<small>ON HIS WAY TO THE CIRCUS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap2" src="images/i-039.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap2">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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> -until she was ready to take back what she had said and apologize.</p> - -<p>“Uh,” said Polly, “Apologize nothing! He’ll be back all too -soon. You’ll see,” and she laughed like a crazy person.</p> - - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-040.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>There were all sorts of guesses as to -what had become of him.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>He had gone probably four miles before anything out of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> -common occurred to disturb his serenity or interfere with his peaceful -progress.</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-043.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>So when he saw the beautiful green leaves sparkling with the -dew of the early morning, the temptation was more than he could -resist.</p> - -<p>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:—</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span></p> - - - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> -the same instant, for he already felt no little respect for those long -sharp horns and Billy’s strong neck.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - - - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-045.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> -dodging them if they were there, and he more than suspected that -there would be excitement quite enough without this added anxiety.</p> - - - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Poor Billy, little he knew what was in store for him!</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>He soon found a place where the bars were down, and turned -aside into the fields.</p> - -<p>Following along as near to the road as he dared, he made pretty<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> -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.</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-047.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> -myself giving him such a butting as he has never had before.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Even the boys, -who had generally -made him trouble -in the old days, now -let him alone.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-048.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>They were on their way home from seeing -the parade where there had been elephants, and camels, and bears,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> -and lions and tigers on view. What was a goat, even as big and proud -and handsome as Billy Whiskers, to sights like these?</p> - -<p>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!</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Never touched me!” shouted Billy. Then he raised his head -to find himself surrounded by such sights as he had never even -dreamed of.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER V<br /> - - -<small>GOING THE ROUNDS</small></h2> -</div> - - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap1" src="images/i-051.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap1">“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-052.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> -as boys and girls are when they find themselves inside the great tent -with all its wonders spread out before them.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span>What really happened to the clown, owing to Billy, we shall -hear a little later.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span>“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.”</p> - -<p>This polite speech won for Billy an answer, as he felt sure it -would.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The snarl with which he said these last words was so fierce that -it made Billy fairly shiver.</p> - -<p>Without waiting for a reply, the big wolf went on:</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> -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!”</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-055.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>The old wolf smiled wickedly as -he said it.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>It was not long, of course, before Billy felt well enough to go -on.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The cage before which Billy now stopped was marked in big -gilt letters:</p> - -<p class="center">AFRICAN LION, KING OF BEASTS.</p> - -<p>Somehow this did not please Billy Whiskers. Though he would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-058.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span> -or two, but came near overcoming him a second time when he perceived -that the great lion was addressing his remarks to him.</p> - -<p>In telling the story afterward, Billy could never remember exactly -what was said, he was so rattled at the time.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Billy tried to comfort the lion for he was truly sorry for him.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>What he found the next chapter will tell.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VI<br /> - - -<small>THE ELEPHANT’S TRUNK</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-063.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span>Poor Billy, he little knew what that bit of mistaken kindness -was to cost him.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-065.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>To his utter amazement and horror the supposed hitching strap<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>What a shout went up! How the boys and girls laughed! -How the people came rushing that way!</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“Look, Harry, it’s Billy Whiskers!”</p> - -<p>“Holy smoke!” was all Harry could say in reply, he was so astonished.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span>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.</p> - -<p>Billy imagined that if he were able to reach the platform his -troubles would all be over, but in this he was sadly mistaken.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> -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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-068.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span>“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?”</p> - -<p>Then she began to laugh and cry and toss her fat arms about. -All of a sudden she stopped short.</p> - -<p>“Come to me, Don Orsino,” she said to the giant. “I’m going -to faint and you must hold me.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“One punch, if he didn’t see me coming, would knock him off -his perch and teach him some manners. I’ll try it.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>You see that Billy did not even yet know that it was the elephant’s -trunk, but called it his nose.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>But I am getting away ahead of my story. There are many adventures -to relate before the memorable home-coming was brought -to pass.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VII<br /> - - -<small>BILLY IN DANGER</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-071.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“What are you looking for, Mike?” he heard someone say in a -deep voice.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span>“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.”</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-072.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that’s right. Hurry -up now and see what’s in that -box. The old man will be calling us -in a minute.”</p> - -<p>“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,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Saved again!” Billy would have shouted had he dared to make -any noise, but he didn’t.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>He stopped to talk with a number of them, but their stories were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The bears, probably, interested Billy as much, if not more, than<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> -any of the rest. They were very good-natured, especially the young -ones, and seemed very glad to make his acquaintance.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span>If he had only known what was in store for him later, he would -have been glad enough to quit then and there.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-076.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“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.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>He would learn pretty soon.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“The looks of that old blue-nosed Mandrill is surely enough -to make a dog laugh,” said giggling Billy, using his favorite expression.</p> - -<p>Just about this time, two or three of the monkeys spied Billy -looking and laughing.</p> - -<p>“It’s that goat,” said one, “who made such a smash-up in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> -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.”</p> - -<p>And so Colonel Mandrill did as he was requested and politely -invited Billy to draw near.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> -Mandrill monkey or baboon reached out a long gray arm and -grabbed Billy firmly by his proud whiskers.</p> - -<p>“You’ll either get us out of here or we’ll pull you in,” said he.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER VIII<br /> - - -<small>CHOSEN LEADER</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap1" src="images/i-081.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap1">“QUIT that,” shouted Billy, as he pulled and jerked, trying to -break away from the grip that held him fast.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span>“I don’t want to be your leader, dear Colonel Mandrill. I am -not fitted for so distinguished an honor.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“My only chance,” thought Billy, “is to break away from him, -even if I lose all my whiskers in doing it.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> -long, white, luxuriant beard, once Billy’s pride and joy but now his -greatest enemy, did not give way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-084.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“QUIT THAT!” SHOUTED BILLY.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-087.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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 <i>the</i> performance of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> -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.</p> - - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Billy Whiskers certainly had no idea what the result would be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> -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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-089.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span></p> - - - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> -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.</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-090.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“Just think,” he growled, “I might -be sharing his glory with him if I had -had more sense and decency.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span>For fully ten minutes, while the others were performing, Billy -did not give any exhibition of his own high jumping.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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!”</p> - -<p>Just as he said that, the great black stallion came galloping by.</p> - -<p>“He will never make it,” shouted the excited and breathless -crowd, for it was plain to be seen what Billy was planning to do.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span>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.</p> - -<p>The monkeys, seeing their leader departing, without waiting to -be called, followed in quick pursuit.</p> - -<p>What happened then will have to be reserved for our next chapter.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-092.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER IX<br /> - - -<small>BILLY WHISKERS JOINS THE CIRCUS</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-009.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Look and see for yourself if you can’t believe me,” he finally -said.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“That beats me hollow,” fairly stuttered the flabbergasted manager. -“I can’t understand it at all, but I hope I know a good thing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span> -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.”</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-094.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Very soon therefore, the jubilant manager of the show was confronted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span> -by Mr. and Mrs. Treat with Tom, Dick and Harry at their -heels.</p> - -<p>“We’ve come to claim our property,” began Mr. Treat.</p> - -<p>“Yes, Billy Whiskers, he’s my goat,” piped little Dick.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-097.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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?</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“Say, Dick, I’ll give you this pony, harness, wagon and all if you -will let me take Billy Whiskers.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Tom replied promptly that he wanted a gun and Harry said that -he did too.</p> - -<p>This rather startled Mr. Circusman for it did not seem to him<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> -their old playfellow so feelingly that before they knew it all three -of them were in tears.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-102.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">“I’LL GIVE YOU THIS PONY, HARNESS AND WAGON IF<br /> -YOU’LL LET ME HAVE BILLY.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER X<br /> - - -<small>THE KIDNAPPERS FOILED</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-105.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>The very thought of it made him tremble all over.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span></p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-107.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>With pleasant -thoughts and -plans like these -Billy Whiskers -finally fell asleep.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“If they call me handsome with all this dirt on me, what will -they think when I am spick and span?”</p> - -<p>So Billy decided to make no trouble, but to submit to the bath -without a rumpus.</p> - -<p>It was lucky he did for otherwise he would have been kidnapped -and there is no telling what might have become of him.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span> -in the big pine box after creating such a disturbance by jumping off -Jumbo’s back onto the freaks’ platform.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>Mike thought hard for several minutes before answering. A -wicked scheme was shaping itself in his mind.</p> - -<p>“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.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> -We won’t lose any time about it either, for it will be easier to get -away with him now than later.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“Just look at him now! He is a beauty. I wouldn’t believe that -soap and water could make such a change in him.”</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> -they are all to pitch on to that precious pair of thieves and give them -a lesson that they will not soon forget.”</p> - -<p>Billy laughed softly to himself as he thought of the trouble he -had cooked for his enemies.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“Don’t kill them,” said Billy, in a hurry. “But you may scare -them out of their wits. They deserve it.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span>By this time the moment had arrived for Billy and the monkeys -to go into the ring.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“It means,” said the manager, talking the matter over with the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span></p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-115.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>“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.</p> - - - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>Finally Billy Whiskers jumped in and all the rest followed.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Billy was now frightened for the lives of the two men. He<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Presently Mike began to collect his scattered senses. They -laughed in the cage when they heard him grunting and groaning.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> -up the inclined plane onto the car. Soon they were rumbling along -to the next place where the great show was to exhibit.</p> - -<p>Billy Whiskers, in the cage with the monkeys, fell asleep wondering -what the coming days could have in store for him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XI<br /> - -<small>THE WRECK</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-017.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-122.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>On the whole, he liked his new life. The grand parade, on -pleasant mornings, was always a delightful experience.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> -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.</p> - - - - -<p>The afternoon and evening performances furnished two more opportunities<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span> -each day for Billy and the monkeys to show themselves to -vast and always admiring audiences.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-124.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">HE RODE ON THE BACK OF JUMBO, THE GREAT ELEPHANT.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The audience was so disappointed that there came near being a -riot and a great many demanded their money back.</p> - -<p>After that great pains were taken with Billy’s diet, and his -health was most carefully guarded.</p> - -<p>Mike and Jim continued to have the care of Billy. After their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> -was always trying to make pleasanter, still they were never to him -quite like home folks.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>While spending a Sunday in St. Louis late in September, he addressed -a letter to his friend Bob at Cloverleaf Farm.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p class="right">St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 27, 1908.</p> - -<p>Dear Bob and Other Home Friends:—</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>This letter is already too long though I haven’t told you half of -what I want to.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span>I hope that little Dick and the boys are well and that the chestnut -pony has not entirely taken my place in their hearts.</p> - -<p>With best love to all,</p> - -<p class="right"><span class="indentright">Sincerely yours,</span><br /> - -Billy Whiskers.</p> - -<p>P. S.—Keep your eyes peeled and you will see me some bright -morning before long.</p> -</div> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>Fortunately Billy Whiskers and the monkeys were not killed -or badly injured, though terribly shaken up and frightened almost -to death.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>When he reached the wood, Billy stopped to rest and to take -stock of his plight, whereabouts and plans.</p> - -<p>Like shadows, the monkeys quickly gathered in a circle around -him.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span>“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!”</p> - -<p>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:</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>“I hope I may be forgiven for that tale,” added Billy under -his breath.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> -as true and this decision was quickly made known, to Billy’s great -relief.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>This proposal led to another consultation, and while not very -enthusiastic about it, the monkeys shortly said that they would go.</p> - -<p>As no time was to be lost, they started north at once, keeping -in the shadow of the woods.</p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span></p> - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span> - -<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER XII<br /> - - -<small>HOME AGAIN</small></h2> -</div> - -<div> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/i-017.jpg" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p class="drop-cap">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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> -would all be safe and could rest in peace and quiet until night came -again when the journey could be resumed.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> -patches and fields of turnips. All the time they had helped -themselves to everything they wanted.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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?”</p> - -<p>“It’s no such thing,” answered Billy, mad through and through<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> -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.”</p> - -<p>“I will,” grimly answered old Blue Nose.</p> - -<p>Outside they found that the sun was already down and that it -was fast growing dark.</p> - -<p>Billy Whiskers and Colonel Mandrill agreed that it would be -safe to start as soon as the other monkeys were awake and ready.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span>“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!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span></p> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-140.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<p class="caption">TOM AND HARRY INVITED THEM TO THE HOUSE.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span></p> - -<p>Billy didn’t dream of the tragedy he was about to witness.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-142.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> -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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>On the part of each there was every indication of joy at the unexpected -reunion.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>“Of course,” went on the Colonel, “the more he hated our teasing -and the crosser he grew, the better we enjoyed the sport.”</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-145.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> -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.</p> - - - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>The following morning the -Circusman with Mike and -Jim appeared on the scene.</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> -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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p>“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.”</p> - -<p>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<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> -to be used for Tom, Dick, and Harry’s education when they were -older.</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - -<p class="center">THE END.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak"><span class="xlarge"><i>The</i><br /> - -Billy Whiskers Series</span></h2> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-q001.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="center"><i>By<br /> -Frances<br /> -Trego<br /> -Montgomery</i></p> - - -<p>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.”</p> - - -<p class="center">TITLES IN SERIES</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p><span class="indent1">1. Billy Whiskers</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">2. Billy Whiskers’ Kids</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">3. Billy Whiskers, Junior</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">4. Billy Whiskers’ Travels</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">5. Billy Whiskers at the Circus</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">6. Billy Whiskers at the Fair</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">7. Billy Whiskers’ Friends</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">8. Billy Whiskers, Jr., and His Chums</span><br /> -<span class="indent1">9. Billy Whiskers’ Grandchildren</span><br /> -10. Billy Whiskers’ Vacation<br /> -11. Billy Whiskers Kidnaped<br /> -12. Billy Whiskers’ Twins<br /> -13. Billy Whiskers in an Aeroplane<br /> -14. Billy Whiskers in Town<br /> -17. Billy Whiskers at the Exposition<br /> -18. Billy Whiskers Out West<br /> -19. Billy Whiskers in the South<br /> -20. Billy Whiskers in Camp<br /> -21. Billy Whiskers in France<br /> -22. Billy Whiskers’ Adventures<br /> -23. Billy Whiskers in the Movies<br /> -24. Billy Whiskers Out for Fun<br /> -25. Billy Whiskers’ Frolics<br /> -26. Billy Whiskers at Home<br /> -27. Billy Whiskers’ Pranks</p> -</div></div> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p>BOUND IN BOARDS<br /> -<span class="indent3">COVER IN COLORS</span><br /> -<span class="indent6">PROFUSE TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS</span><br /> -<span class="indent9">FULL-PAGE DRAWINGS IN COLORS</span></p> -</div></div> - -<p class="center">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY—AKRON, OHIO</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">BOOKS BY FRANCES TREGO MONTGOMERY</h2> -</div> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-q002a.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<h3><span class="xlarge">The Wonderful Electric Elephant</span></h3> - - - -<p>“A new and fascinating sort of fairy story.”—<i>Salt Lake Tribune.</i></p> - -<p>“A book in which youth will take keen pleasure.”—<i>The Bookseller.</i></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p class="center">CLOTH BOUND, 12MO, PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED, WITH JACKET</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - - -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-q002b.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<h3><span class="xlarge">On a Lark to the Planets</span></h3> - - -<p>“This sprightly author holds the record for inventiveness.”—<i>Philadelphia -Item.</i></p> - -<p>“The colored illustrations are a feature of delight.”—<i>Grand Rapids Herald.</i></p> - -<p>“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.</p> - -<p class="center">BOUND IN CLOTH, 12MO, HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED, WITH JACKET</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-q002c.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<h3><span class="xlarge">Frances and the Irrepressibles<br /> -at Buena Vista Farm</span></h3> - - - -<p>“Told with a freshness and vivacity that never fails.”—<i>Charleston -News and Courier.</i></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<p class="center">ILLUSTRATIONS REPRODUCED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS, CLOTH BOUND</p> -</div> -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY—AKRON, OHIO</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">BOOKS FOR BOYS</h2> -</div> - - -<p class="center"><span class="xlarge">The Boy Scout Series</span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i-q003.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="center"><i>By<br /> -Major Robert Maitland<br /> -and<br /> -Colonel George Durston</i></p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p>Where is there the boy not interested in adventure?</p> - -<p>Where the boy not intensely interested in the Boy Scouts too?</p> - -<p>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.</p> - - -<p class="center">TWELVE TITLES</p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - -<tr><td>1. The Boy Scouts in Camp</td><td> <span class="indent1">7. The Boy Scout Automobilists</span></td></tr> -<tr><td>2. The Boy Scouts to the Rescue </td><td> <span class="indent1">8. The Boy Scout Aviators</span></td></tr> -<tr><td>3. The Boy Scouts on the Trail</td><td> <span class="indent1">9. The Boy Scouts’ Champion Recruit</span></td></tr> -<tr><td>4. The Boy Scout Firefighters </td><td> 10. The Boy Scouts’ Defiance</td></tr> -<tr><td>5. The Boy Scouts Afloat </td><td> 11. The Boy Scouts’ Challenge</td></tr> -<tr><td>6. The Boy Scout Pathfinders</td><td> 12. The Boy Scouts’ Victory</td></tr> -</table> - -<p class="center">Each Volume A 12MO, With An Attractive Jacket Printed In Colors, Each $0.25.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center"><span class="xlarge">The Aeroplane Boys Series</span></p> - -<p class="center"><i>By Captain Frank Cobb</i></p> - -<p>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.</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p>BATTLING THE CLOUDS<br /> -AN AVIATOR’S LUCK<br /> -DANGEROUS DEEDS</p> -</div></div> - -<p class="center">Each Volume A 12MO, With Frontispiece, And Jacket In Colors, Each $0.35.</p> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY—AKRON, OHIO</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak">BOOKS FOR GIRLS</h2> -</div> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<div class="figleft"><img src="images/i-q005a.jpg" alt="" /></div> -<div class="figright"><img src="images/i-q005a.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="center"><span class="xlarge">The Campfire Girls Series</span></p> - -<p class="center"><i>By Jane L. Stewart</i></p> - - - -<p>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.</p> - - - -<p class="center">SIX TITLES</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p>THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS IN THE WOODS<br /> -THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS ON THE FARM<br /> -THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS AT LONG LAKE<br /> -THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS IN THE MOUNTAINS<br /> -THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS ON THE MARCH<br /> -THE CAMPFIRE GIRLS AT THE SEASHORE</p> - -</div></div> -<p class="center">Each Volume Has A Frontispiece And A Handsome Colored Jacket, Each $0.50.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center"><span class="xlarge">The Girl Scout Series</span></p> - -<p class="center"><i>By Katherine Keene Galt</i></p> - -<p>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.</p> - - -<p class="center">THREE TITLES</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> -<div class="poetry"> -<p> -THE GIRL SCOUTS AT HOME, or Rosanna’s Beautiful Day<br /> -THE GIRL SCOUTS RALLY, or Rosanna Wins<br /> -THE GIRL SCOUTS TRIUMPH, or Rosanna’s Sacrifice</p> -</div></div> - -<p class="center">Each Volume Has A Frontispiece And A Jacket In Colors, Each $0.35.</p> -<hr class="tb" /> - -</div> - -<p class="center">THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY—AKRON, OHIO</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p class="ph1">The Billy Whiskers Game</p> - -<p class="center">No. 280</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/q-006.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<p class="center">A million delighted youngsters have read the<br /> -BILLY WHISKERS BOOKS<br /> -<br /> -<span class="large">THERE’S A LAUGH ON EVERY PAGE</span><br /> -<br /> -The same delighted youngsters (and their<br /> -parents too) will play the new board game<br /> -where Billy <span class="gesperrt">DOES</span> all the things the<br /> -stories tell.<br /> -<br /> -<span class="large">THERE’S A LAUGH AT EVERY PLAY</span><br /> -<br /> -<span class="xlarge">The Billy Whiskers Game</span><br /> -<br /> -“<i>The Game’s The Thing!</i>”<br /> -</p></div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<div class="transnote"> -<p class="ph2">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:</p> - - - -<p>Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.</p> - -<p>Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.</p> - -<p>The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber and is entered into the public domain.</p> -</div></div> -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BILLY WHISKERS AT THE CIRCUS ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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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