The trip along the canal continued in leisurely fashion. Now the Bluebird would be lifted up at some water-foaming lock, or lowered in the same fashion. Twice they were lifted over inclined planes, and the young folks, especially Dot and Tess, liked this very much.
The weather had been all that could be desired ever since they started, except the rain storm in which the girls were robbed. But now, about four days after leaving Milton, they awoke one morning to find a disagreeable drizzle. But Hank and the mules did not seem to mind it. In fact they rather liked splashing through the rain and mud.
Of course getting out and strolling along the towpath was out of the question for the voyagers, and they found amusements enough on board the houseboat.
It rained all day, but it needed more than this to take the joy out of life for the Corner House girls.
“Fair day to-morrow!” cried Neale, and so it proved.
They approached a small town early the next day, and as they tied up at a tow-barn station to get some supplies Dot cried:
“Oh, look at the elephant!”
“Where?” demanded Tess.
“I mean it’s a picture of it on that barn,” went on the mother of the “Alice-doll,” and she pointed.
“Oh, it’s a circus!” exclaimed Tess. “Look, Ruth—Agnes!”