ng after
him.

"One hundred dollars to anybody who can ride Hanky-Panky!" sang out
Giles Frozzler. "He is as gentle as a kitten, and it is a great
pleasure to be able--"

The clown got no further, for just then the mule turned around and gave
him a kick which sent him sprawling. Then, like a flash Hanky-Panky
turned around, caught Frozzler by the waist and began to run around the
ring with him.

"Hi! let go!" screamed the thoroughly frightened circus owner. "Let go,
I say! Help! he will kill me! Help!"

"Hurrah! the mule has got the best of it!" sang out Tom. "He knows how
to run a circus even if that fellow don't."

"I'll bet on the mule," put in Dick. "He's a nose ahead in this race!"

"Save me!" yelled Frozzler. "Drat that beast! Stop him, somebody!"

There was intense excitement, and several employees rushed forward to
rescue Frozzler. But before this could be done, the mule left the ring
tent and dashed into the dressing room, where he allowed the circus
owner to drop into a barrel of water which was kept there in case of
fire. At this the crowd yelled itself hoarse; and this scene brought
the afternoon performance to an end.

CHAPTER XVI

ALECK BRINGS NEWS

"I reckon we got square," was Tom's comment, after the fun was over and
they were on their way to the farm. "My, but wasn't that circus owner
mad!"

"I don't think he'll have another such crowd to-night," said Fred, and
he was right. The evening performance was attended by less than a
hundred people, and a week later the show failed and was sold out
completely.

By the end of the week word was received from both the Stanhopes and
the Lanings that all would be glad to join the Rovers in their
houseboat vacation. They would take a train for Pittsburg direct on the
following Wednesday morning and would there await their friends.

"This suits me to a T!" cried Dick, after reading the communication
Dora had sent him. "If we don't have the best time ever then it will be
our own fault."

"Just what I say," answered Sam, who had received a long letter from
Grace.

There were many articles to pack and ship to Pittsburg. The boys also
made out a long list of the things to be purchased for the trip, and in
this their father and their aunt helped them.

Sunday passed quietly, all of the boys attending both church and Sunday
school. It was a hard matter for Tom to keep still on the Sabbath day,
but he did so, much to his aunt's comfort.

Ale