“Su-say!” cried Tom. “Maybe he isn’t lying, fellows! You know there was to be a circus here to-day!”
“Yes, that’s what made Nel dream of ’em,” said Bob.
But Tom was studying Nelson’s face attentively, and something about his smile made Tom suspect that he was on the right track.
“I’ll bu-bu-bet you it’s su-su-su-so!” cried Tom. “Where is it, Nel?”
They followed him up to the brow of the hill. Before them lay the tents and the wagons, and, nearer at hand, the elephant and the camel were still quietly eating breakfast. They stared in amazement.
“Of course you will, Tommy,” said Nelson soothingly. “Only don’t explode.”
“--bu-bu-bu-blowed!” ended Tom triumphantly. “Wouldn’t that cu-cu-cu-craze you?”
Then Nelson had to tell them all about it.
IN WHICH JERRY TELLS HIS STORY AND DAN PROVIDES DINNER
They dragged Dan away from the elephant and set out for the town and the telegraph office.
“I hope the money is there,” said Tom. “Of course I want to eat, but to stay here where there’s a circus and not be able to get in would be worse than starving.”
“And such a bee-oo-tiful elephant,” sighed Dan. “I could look for hours at that elephant and watch him curl his trunk up. Why weren’t we made with trunks, do you suppose?”
“I suppose little boys like Tommy would only have suit cases?” inquired Bob.
“Robert, that is a bum joke,” answered Dan severely. “Only the consideration that you are weak and faint from want of food restrains me from punishing you severely. Also Nel.”
“It’s what you didn’t do. You didn’t wake me up when the circus walked into our bedroom. Don’t you think I like to see camels and lions and things as well as you do? And hot coffee too! You were pretty mean to have all that fun by yourself.”
“Well, there’s the telegraph office,” said Bob. “Say, fellows, supposing--supposing it hasn’t come!”
“Maybe it hasn’t--yet,” said Dan anxiously. “It’s only a little after eight, and if dad didn’t send it last night----”
“We ought to have said ‘Send immediately,’” interrupted Bob regretfully.
“That’s so,” agreed Tom; “immediately, if not sooner. But pshaw, why, I can just smell that money!”
“Wish I could smell the breakfast,” laughed Nelson. “Here we are.”
“Good morning,” said Dan. “Anything here for me?”