CHAPTER XIV SOMEBODY GETS LOST

Puttingallcarebehindthem,theyoungfolksrandownthehill,withaverylivelydoggambollingbesidethem,andtookadelightfullytantalizingsurveyoftheexternalcharmsofthebigtent.Butpeoplewerebeginningtogoin,anditwasimpossibletodelaywhentheycameroundtotheentrance. Benfeltthatnow"hisfootwasonhisnativeheath,"andthesuperbairofindifferencewithwhichhethrewdownhisdollarattheticket-office,carelesslysweptupthechange,andstrolledintothetentwithhishandsinhispockets,wassoimpressivethatevenbigSamrepressedhisexcitementandmeeklyfollowedtheirleader,asheledthemfromcagetocage,doingthehonorsasifheownedthewholeconcern.Babheldtighttotheflapofhisjacket,staringaboutherwithroundeyes,andlisteningwithlittlegaspsofastonishmentordelighttotheroaringoflions,thesnarlingoftigers,thechatterofthemonkeys,thegroaningofcamels,andthemusicoftheverybrassbandshutupinaredbin. Fiveelephantsweretossingtheirhayaboutinthemiddleofthemenagerie,andBilly'slegsshookunderhimashelookedupatthebigbeastswhoselongnosesandsmall,sagaciouseyesfilledhimwithawe.Samwassotickledbythedrollmonkeysthattheotherslefthimbeforethecageandwentontoseethezebra,"stripedjustlikeMa'smuslingown,"Babdeclared.Butthenextminutesheforgotallabouthiminherrapturesovertheponiesandtheirtinycoltsespeciallyonemiteofathingwholayasleeponthehay,suchaminiaturecopyofitslittlemouse-coloredmammathatonecouldhardlybelieveitwasalive. "Oh,Ben,Imustfeelofit!—thecunningbabyhorse!"anddownwentBabinsidetheropetopatandadmiretheprettycreature,whileitsmothersmeltsuspiciouslyatthebrownhat,andbabylazilyopenedoneeyetoseewhatwasgoingon. "Comeoutofthat,itisn'tallowed,"commandedBen,longingtodothesamething,butmindfuloftheproprietiesandhisowndignity. Babreluctantlytoreherselfawaytofindconsolationinwatchingtheyounglions,wholookedsolikebigpuppies,andthetigerswashingtheirfacesjustaspussdid. "IfIstroked'em,wouldn'ttheypurr?"sheasked,bentonenjoyingherself,whileBenheldherskirtslestsheshouldtrytheexperiment. "You'dbetternotgotopattingthem,oryou'llgetyourhandsclawedup.Tigersdopurrlikefunwhentheyarehappy,butthesefellersneverare,andyou'llonlysee'emspitandsnarl,"saidBen,leadingthewaytothehumpycarrels,whowerepeacefullychewingtheircudandlongingforthedesert,withadreamy,far-awaylookintheirmournfuleyes. Here,leaningontherope,andscientificallybitingastrawwhilehetalked,Benplayedshowmantohisheart'scontenttilltheneighofahorsefromthecircustentbeyondremindedhimofthejoystocome. "We'dbetterhurryalongandgetgoodseatsbeforefolksbegintocrowd.IwanttositnearthecurtainandseeifanyofSmitthers'slotare'round." "Iain'tgoingwayoffthereyoucan'tseehalfsowell,andthatbigdrummakessuchanoiseyoucan'thearyourselfthink,"saidSam,whohadrejoinedthem. Sotheysettledingoodplaceswheretheycouldseeandhearallthatwentonintheringandstillcatchglimpsesofwhitehorses,brightcolors,andtheglitterofhelmetsbeyondthedingyredcurtains.BentreatedBabtopeanutsandpop-cornlikeanindulgentparent,andshemurmuredprotestationsofundyinggratitudewithhermouthfull,asshesatblissfullybetweenhimandthecongenialBilly. Sancho,meantime,hadbeenmuchexcitedbythefamiliarsightsandsounds,andnowwasgreatlyexercisedinhisdoggishmindattheunusualproceedingofhismasterforhewassurethattheyoughttobewithinthere,puttingontheircostumes,readytotaketheirturn.HelookedanxiouslyatBen,sniffeddisdainfullyatthestrapasiftoremindhimthatascarletribbonoughttotakeitsplace,andpokedpeanutshellsaboutwithhispawasifsearchingfortheletterswithwhichtospellhisfamousname. "Iknow,oldboy,Iknowbutitcan'tbedone.We'vequitthebusinessandmustjustlookon.Nolarksforusthistime,Sanch,sokeepquietandbehave,'whisperedBen,tuckingthedogawayundertheseatwithasympatheticcuddleofthecurlyheadthatpeepedoutfrombetweenhisfeet. "Hewantstogoandcutup,don'the?"saidBilly,"andsodoyou,Iguess.Wishyouweregoingto.Wouldn'titbefuntoseeBenshowingoffinthere?" "I'dbeafraidtohavehimgouponapileofelephantsandjumpthroughhoopslikethesefolks,"answeredBab,poringoverherpicturedplay-billwithunabatedrelish. "Doneitahundredtimes,andI'djustliketoshowyouwhatIcando.Theydon'tseemtohaveanyboysinthislotshouldn'twonderifthey'dtakemeifIasked'em,"saidBen,movinguneasilyonhisseatandcastingwistfulglancestowardtheinnertentwhereheknewhewouldfeelmoreathomethaninhispresentplace. "Iheardsomemensaythatit'sagainstthelawtohavesmallboysnowit'ssodangerousandnotgoodforthem,thiskindofthing.Ifthat'sso,you'redonefor,Ben,"observedSam,withhismostgrown-upair,rememberingBen'sremarkson"fatboys." "Don'tbelieveawordofit,andSanchandIcouldgothisminuteandgettakenon,I'llbet.Weareavaluablecouple,andIcouldproveitifIchoseto,"beganBen,gettingexcitedandboastful. "Oh,see,they'recoming!—goldcarriagesandlovelyhorses,andflagsandelephants,andeverything,"criedBab,givingaclutchatBen'sarmastheopeningprocessionappearedheadedbytheband,tootingandbangingtilltheirfaceswereasredastheiruniforms. Roundandroundtheywenttilleveryonehadseentheirfill,thentheridersalonewereleftcaracolingabouttheringwithfeathersflying,horsesprancing,andperformerslookingastiredandindifferentasiftheywouldallliketogotosleepthenandthere. "Howsplendid!"sighedBab,astheywentdashingout,totumbleoffalmostbeforet