CHAPTER XIV SOMEBODY GETS LOST

rtnow,andtheshinymanisallreadywithhisgun.Willheshootanyofthem,apprehension,forthesharpcrackofariflestartledhermorethantheloudestthunder-clapsheeverheard. "Blessyou,no,childit'sonlypowdertomakeanoiseandscare'em.Iwouldn'tliketobeinhisplace,thoughfathersaysyoucannevertrusttigersasyoucanlions,nomatterhowtametheyare.Slyfellers,likecats,andwhentheyscratchit'snojoke,Itellyou,"answeredBen,withaknowingwagofthehead,asthesidesofthecagerattleddown,andthepoor,fiercecreatureswereseenleapingandsnarlingasiftheyresentedthisdisplayoftheircaptivity. Babcurledupherfeetandwinkedfastwithexcitementasshewatchedthe"shinyman"fondlethegreatcats,liedownamongthem,pullopentheirredmouths,andmakethemleapoverhimorcrouchathisfeetashesnappedthelongwhip.Whenhefiredthegunandtheyallfellasifdead,shewithdifficultysuppressedasmallscreamandclappedherhandsoverherearsbutpoorBillynevermindeditabit,forhewaspaleandquakingwiththefearof"heaven'sartillery"thunderingoverhead,andasabrightflashoflightningseemedtorundownthetalltent-poleshehidhiseyesandwishedwithallhisheartthathewassafewithmother. "Afraidofthunder,Bill?"askedBen,tryingtospeakstoutly,whileasenseofhisownresponsibilitiesbegantoworryhim,forhowwasBabtobegothomeinsuchapouringrain? "Itmakesmesickalwaysdid.WishIhadn'tcome,"sighedBilly,feeling,alltoolate,thatlemonadeand"lozengers"werenotthefittestfoodforman,orastiflingtentthebestplacetobeinonahotJulyday,especiallyinathunder-storm. "Ididn'taskyoutocomeyouaskedmesoitisn'tmyfault,"saidBen,rathergruffly,aspeoplecrowdedbywithoutpausingtohearthecomicsongtheclownwassinginginspiteoftheconfusion. "Oh,I'msotired,"groanedBab,gettingupwithalongstretchofarmsandlegs. "You'llbetirederbeforeyougethome,Iguess.NobodyaskedyoutoCome,anyway"andBengazeddolefullyroundhim,wishinghecouldseeafamiliarfaceorfindawiserheadthanhisowntohelphimoutofthescrapehewasin. "IsaidIwouldn'tbeabother,andIwon't.I'llwalkrighthomethisminute.Iain'tafraidofthunder,andtherainwon'thurttheseoldclothes.Comealong,"criedBab,bravely,bentonkeepingherword,thoughitlookedmuchharderafterthefunwasalloverthanbefore. "Myheadacheslikefury.Don'tIwisholdJackwasheretotakemeback,"saidBilly,followinghiscompanionsinmisfortunewithsuddenenergy,asalouderpealthanbeforerolledoverhead. "YoumightaswellwishforLitaandthecoveredwagonwhileyouareaboutit,thenwecouldallride,"answeredBen,leadingthewaytotheoutertent,wheremanypeoplewerelingeringinhopesoffairweather. "Why,BillyBarton,howintheworlddidyougethere?"criedasurprisedvoiceasthecrookofacanecaughttheboybythecollarandjerkedhimfacetofacewithayoungfarmer,whowaspushingalong,followedbyhis,wifeandtwoorthreechildren. "Oh,UncleEben,I'msogladyoufoundMe!Iwalkedover,andit'sraining,andIdon'tfeelwell.Letmegowithyou,can'tI?"askedBilly,castinghimselfandallhiswoesuponthestrongarmthathadlaidholdofhim. "Don'tseewhatyourmotherwasabouttoletyoucomesofaralone,andyoujustoverscarletfever.Weareasfullaseverwecanbe,butwe'lltuckyouinsomehow,"saidthepleasant-facedwoman,bundlingupherbaby,andbiddingthetwolittlelads"keepclosetofather." "Ididn'tcomealone.Samgotaride,andcan'tyoutuckBenandBabintoo?Theyain'tverybig,eitherofthem,"whisperedBilly,anxioustoservehisfriendsnowthathewasprovidedforhimself. "Can'tdoit,anyway.Gottopickupmotheratthecorner,andthatwillbeallIcancarry.It'sliftingalittlehurryalong,Lizzie,andletusgetoutofthisasquickispossible,"saidUncleEben,impatientlyforgoingtoacircuswithayoungfamilyisnotaneasytask,aseveryoneknowswhohasevertriedit. "Ben,I'mrealsorrythereisn'troomforyou.I'lltellBab'smotherwheresheis,andmaybesomeonewillcomeforyou,"saidBilly,hurriedly,ashetorehimselfaway,feelingrathermeantodeserttheothers,thoughhecouldbeofnouse. "Cutaway,anddon'tmindus.I'mallright,andBabmustdothebestshecan,"wasallBenhadtimetoanswerbeforehiscomradewashustledawaybythecrowdpressingroundtheentrancewithmuchclashingofumbrellasandscramblingofboysandmen,whoratherenjoyedtheflurry. "Nouseforustogetknockedaboutinthatscrimmage.We'llwaitaminuteandthengoouteasy.It'saregularrouser,andyou'llbeaswetasasopbeforewegethome.Hopeyou'lllikethat?"addedBen,lookingoutattheheavyrainporingdownasifitnevermeanttostop. "Don'tcareabit,"saidBab,swingingononeoftheropeswithahappy-go-luckyair,forherspiritswerenotextinguishedyet,andshewasboundtoenjoythisexcitingholidaytotheveryend."Ilikecircusessomuch!IwishIlivedhereallthetime,andsleptinawagon,asyoudid,andhadthesedearlittlecoltiestoplaywith." "Itwouldn'tbefunifyoudidn'thaveanyfolkstotakecareofyou,"beganBen,thoughtfullylookingaboutthefamiliarplacewherethemenwerenowfeedingtheanimals,settingtheirrefreshmenttables,orloungingonthehaytogetsuchrestastheycouldbeforetheeveningentertainment.Suddenlyhestarted,gavealonglook,thenturnedtoBab,andthrustingSancho'sstrapintoherhand,said,hastily: "IseeafellowIusedtoknow.Maybehecantellmesomethingaboutfather.Don'tyoustirtillIcomeback." Thenhewasofflikeashot,andBabsawhimrunafteramanwithabucketwhobadbeenwateringthezebra.Sanchotriedtofollow,butwascheckedwithanimpatient,— "No,youcan'tgo!Whataplagueyouare,taggingaroundwhenpeopledon'twantyou." Sanchomighthaveanswered,"Soa