He ran out to his friends.
“Say, fellows,” he shouted, “what do you say to taking in the circus? I’ve just found out that we can go there and get back in time for our train.”
What did they say? They fairly jumped at the proposal.
In a few minutes the train came along, and after having left their suitcases in the charge of the good-hearted station agent they piled on board, helter-skelter, and were off.
It took only about half an hour to reach their destination. They were surprised to find that Bayport was a large shipping town. A multitude of vessels of all sizes and descriptions were in the harbor, and the wharfs were piled high with merchandise. It was a scene of busy life and bustle, and the boys would have lingered to watch it had it not been for the much greater fascination of the circus. Two o’clock was fast approaching, and they hurried along so as to be in time for good seats. Besides, they wanted to take in some of the side shows if possible before the main performance began.
They heard the music of the band before they came in sight of the grounds, and it still further stimulated their eagerness.
They turned a corner and there before them were the white circus tents with a crowd already wandering about the grounds, the sideshows with the bearded lady, the snake-charmer, the ossified man, the human-pincushion, the fat woman, the midgets, the strong man and other freaks, the array of elephants trumpeting and tossing their trunks, the small boys carrying water for the animals and thus earning free admission to the show, the peanut and lemonade booths, all pervaded by the unforgettable, pungent smell inseparable from the city of tents.
They were walking about and taking in all the sights with the keenest interest when Bobby put his hand suddenly on Fred’s arm.
“Look at those two fellows over there,” he cried, indicating a spot near the ticket taker’s wagon.
Fred looked in that direction, but the crowd was constantly changing and he saw nothing that explained Bobby’s exclamation.