“Aha, the boy wants to go to the circus!”
“Marvelous,” grunted Dick. “Own up, wouldn’t you fellows like to see it yourself?”
The boys teased him for a few minutes, then they perceived that there was method in Dick’s madness and they decided that it would be good fun to see the circus if they could get there on time.
“Only reason I wanted you chaps to hurry a little was because I figured that if we covered a good number of miles we would get to a point where people would be on the way to the circus and we could get a lift and arrive in time to see the show this afternoon. Then we could get another start right after it let out, and so fix it as to arrive at the camp fairly early in the morning, covering our last ten miles while it was early and cool,” he explained.
“That’s pretty good dope at that, Dick. Let’s go. We’ll see the circus and not waste any time doing it, either.” And Garry set the pace as he finished talking.
They stopped at noon and prepared a hasty lunch by the side of the road, after Dick had stopped at a farm house and had his canteen filled with fresh milk.
By this time scores of automobiles and teams were on the road, but practically every one of them was filled to overflowing with adults and children, all presumably bound for the circus. Finishing their meal, they rested fifteen minutes, then Garry, glancing at his watch, remarked: “We have still ten miles to go, and it is now half-past twelve. The circus probably begins at half-past two, so that unless we get a ride we won’t get there in time to see the show. We couldn’t cover the ten miles in two hours, especially after having come as far as we have this morning.”
“I’m going to see that circus, though, even if we have to wait for the evening performance,” announced Dick. “What do you fellows think?”
“I guess it would be all right,” answered Garry. “There is no life or death matter to make us arrive early in the morning at the camp, so we might as well take it easy for the rest of the way.” Luck was with them, however, for they had gone little more than a mile when they heard a car coming behind them. It proved to contain only a single occupant who, as he neared the boys, slowed down and asked if they did not want a ride. They were unanimous in their answer.
“On the way to the circus?” asked the driver.