“And are you still traveling alone and doing as you please?” asked Bettina.
“No, I am not alone this time. I am with my wife and friends,” and Billy baaed for Nannie, Stubby and Button to come over and be introduced.
The elephant, camel, burro and the Chums were all standing talking and reminiscing on the long ago and asking after friends, when whiz! a rope flew over Billy’s head and he found himself lassoed and a voice saying: “That is the time I caught you off your guard, you old rascal! You see I remembered you of old and knew if I wanted to catch you I must do it quickly and talk to you afterwards, or you would kick up your heels in my face and be off. And thereby the circus would miss one of the best performers and drawing cards it ever had. Well, how are you, old fellow, and how has the world been using you? But I need not ask, for my eyes tell me you look younger and more frisky than you did when last I saw you, and that was several years ago. I do hope your temper has cooled down some since last we met, for I have a distinct recollection of how fiery it was and of being butted over a fence and you running away from me.”
Just then Stubby and Button each felt a rope slip around their necks and they found themselves like Billy—caught.
When Billy saw this, he had to laugh to think how easily the three of them had been captured. They did not lasso Nannie for they knew she would follow Billy wherever he went.
Stubby, who hated performing either in the circus or the movies, was most downcast, while Button looked mad enough to chew tacks.
“Cheer up, Chums! The best is yet to come!” said Billy. “I hear that this circus is on its way to the Pacific Coast, so if we stay with it we can be carried out there on their train instead of hoofing it. And all we will have to do will be to perform a trick or two each day. In the meantime they will feed and take good care of us clear to the Coast.”
“I don’t want to be taken care of!” whined Stubby. “I want to take care of myself and live a free life even if it is a harder one. And I am going to run away the first chance I get.”
“So am I!” meowed Button. “Me for the wild free life!”
“Those are generally my sentiments too,” said Billy, “but not in this case when thousands of miles of treeless plains, semi-deserts and alkali pools are before me to hoof it over when I could ride. Me for diplomacy until I get across the continent and when once in California, the free life again.”