“Oh, I pulled the right rope in time,” replied Jack, as he and his new friend went inside the tent, where the band was playing a lively air.
CHAPTER XII
JACK DOES A STUNT
“Say, ain’t this bully!” exclaimed Ferd, as the procession which begins each circus performance wound slowly around the arena. “It’s immense! I wouldn’t ’a’ missed it fer a lot. I’m glad I met you. Now I’ve got half a dollar more to spend on stuff to eat. Besides, this is a better seat than I would ’a’ got.”
“Yes, the seats are all right,” admitted Jack.
“Ain’t you hungry?” went on Ferd, though he did not take his eyes off the procession of animals, chariots and performers. “I am,” he continued, not waiting for an answer. “Let’s have some hot frankfurter sandwiches.”
A man with a basket of them was passing among the audience. Jack eyed the brown sausages, in between the white rolls, with a hungry eye. The crackers, cheese, and pie had not been very “filling.”
“Hey, there! Give us some of them,” called Ferd to the man.
“How many? Speak quick. I’ve got to get out of here in a hurry, before the performance begins,” replied the vender.
“Four,” replied the farmer boy. “Ye can eat two, can’t ye?” he inquired of Jack, who nodded his head in assent.
“Say, these are all right,” remarked the runaway lad, as he munched the meat and bread, on which had been spread a liberal quantity of mustard. “I’m glad I met you, Ferd.”