“What is it?” he asked in wonderment.
“I thought I saw a couple of the bullies that we drove away from Dr. Raymond’s apple tree,” replied Bobby, straining his eyes as he searched the crowd.
“It might have been only a resemblance,” suggested Fred.
“Perhaps,” said Bobby dubiously. “But I was certain that one of them was that Lemming, the leader of the gang. And the other looked like the fellow that I doubled up with the baseball.”
“Well, even if it was, that wouldn’t be so surprising” rejoined Fred. “This circus is drawing people from towns for many miles around and those fellows are as likely to come as any one else. Do you think they saw you?”
“They weren’t looking our way when I caught sight of them,” answered Bobby. “As you say, it might have been only a resemblance. And, anyway, they couldn’t put anything over on us in such a crowd as this.”
And in the multitude of things to see and hear the incident passed entirely out of his mind.
“I say, fellows,” exclaimed Billy, “I’ll bet that fellow standing over there is the Eskimo chief, the one they call Takyak on the circus poster. He looks just like the pictures of the Eskimos I’ve seen.”
The man in question was a stocky Eskimo with the broad flat features that proclaimed his race. He was standing rather moodily in the shadow of one of the tents with a distant look in his eyes as though his thoughts were far away.
He glanced carelessly at the boys as they drew near him, and then something about them seemed to awaken his liking, for his face took on a friendly smile.