The boys succeeded in crawling down between the folds of the canvas, however, and, snuggling close together, settled down for their first night on the road with a circus. Soon the wagons began to move in response to a chorus of hoarse shouts. The motion of the canvas wagon very soon lulled the lads to sleep, as the big wagon show slowly started away and disappeared in the soft summer night.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY
“Hi! Stop the train! Stop the train!” howled Teddy, as he landed flat on his back on the hard ground.
“Here, here! What are you fellows doing?” shouted Phil, scrambling to his feet.
“I dreamed I was in a train of cars and they ran off the track,” said Teddy, struggling to his feet and rubbing his shins gingerly. “Did you do that?”
“You bet. Think I can wait for you kids to take your beauty sleep? Don’t you suppose this show’s got something else to do besides furnish sleeping accommodations for lazy kids? Take hold here, and help us get this canvas out if you want any breakfast.”
“Take it out yourself,” growled Teddy, dodging the flat of the canvasman’s hand.
The lads had been hurled from their sleeping place by a rough tentman in a hurry to get at his work. The chill of the early dawn was in the air. The boys stood, with shoulders hunched forward, shivering, their teeth chattering, not knowing where they were and caring still less. They knew only that they were most uncomfortable. The glamor was gone. They were face to face with the hardships of the calling they had chosen, though they did not know that it was only a beginning of those hardships.
“B-r-r-r!” shivered Teddy.
“T-h-h-h-at’s what I say,” chattered Phil.