"Now we'll let go of both balloons at the same time," Bert explained, "and the balloon that goes up highest will win the race. Now watch, everyone!"
They all watched, as Bert let go the toys, one from either hand. Up, up, up, went the red and blue balloons.
"Oh, mine's going faster!" cried Freddie.
"No, mine is!" exclaimed Flossie.
And, for a time first the red balloon would be ahead, and then the blue one. But finally they both were at exactly the same height, and in that way they sailed onward and upward until they were only little specks in the blue sky, so no one could tell which one was ahead in the race.
It was while the children were out in the yard in front of the Meadow Brook farmhouse, watching the disappearing balloons, that Bert heard a stranger's voice calling.
"I say, do you children know where there is a circus around here?" was the question, and, turning, Nan, Bert and the others saw a man in a carriage, on the road just outside the fence.
"A circus?" repeated Bert.
"Yes, I heard there was one showing around here," the man went on, "and I'd like to find it."
"There was a circus over at Rosedale yesterday," spoke Bert, "but it has traveled on by this time. If you inquired there you could find out where it went."