ised Bert, rather shortly.

"Oh, don't talk that way to them," said Nan. "They do love that cat
so. Never mind, Flossie and Freddie. I'm sure we'll find him soon.
Here comes papa."

Mr. Bobbsey came back, looking somewhat worried.

"Did you find her?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey anxiously.

"No," he replied, with a shake of his head. "She was the circus fat
lady all right. It seems she missed the showtrain, and came on in
ours. And, when we stopped she got out, and went up ahead. Part of the
circus train, carrying the performers, was not damaged and that has
gone on. The fat lady is with that, so one of the men said."

"And, very likely, she has carried off our silver cup," exclaimed Mrs.
Bobbsey. "Oh dear! Can you find her later, Richard?"

"I think so. But it will take some time. The circus is going to
Danville--that's a hundred miles from here. But I will write to the
managers there, and ask them to get our cup from the fat lady."

"But where is Snoop?" asked Freddie, with much anxiety.

"I don't know, my dear," answered Mr. Bobbsey. "I asked the circus men
if they had seen him, but they were too busy to remember. He may be
running around some where. But we can't wait any longer. We must get
home. I'll speak to one of the switchmen, who stay around here, and if
they see Snoop I'll have them keep him for us. We'll come back
tomorrow and inquire."

"But we want Snoop now!" exclaimed Freddie, fretfully.

"I'm afraid we can't get him," said Mrs. Bobbsey, gently. "Come,
children, let's go home now, and leave it to papa. Oh, to think of
your lovely silver cup being gone!"

"Snoop is worse," said Flossie, almost crying.

"I--I'm sorry I let the fat lady take the cup," spoke Freddie.

"Oh, you meant all right, my dear," said his mamma, "and it was very
kind of you. But we really ought to start. We may miss a trolley.
Come, Dinah, can you carry all you have?"

"'Deed an' I can, Mrs. Bobbsey. But I suah am sorry 'bout dat ar'
Snoop."

"Oh, it wasn't your fault, Dinah," said Nan quickly. "He is getting to
be such a big cat that he can easily push the slats off his box, now.
We must make it stronger next time."

Flossie and Freddie wondered if there would be a "next time," for they
feared Snoop was gone forever. They did not worry so much about the
silver cup, valuable as it was.

With everyone in the little party carrying something, the Bobbsey
family set off across, the fields toward the dist