ant trolley line that
would take them nearly home. The moon was well up now, and there was a
good path across the fields. Nan and Bert were talking about the
wreck, and recalling some of the funny incidents of catching the circus
animals.

Flossie and Freddie were wondering whether they would ever see their
pet cat again. They had had him so long that he seemed like one of the
family.

"Maybe he ran off and joined the circus," said Flossie.

"Maybe," spoke her brother. "But he can't do any tricks, so they won't
want him in a show."

"He can so do tricks! He can chase his tail and almost grab it."

"That isn't a trick."

"It is so--as much as standing on your head."

"Children--children--I don't know what I'll do with you if you don't
stop that constant bickering," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "You must not
dispute so."

"Well, mamma, but isn't chasing your tail a trick?" asked Flossie.
"Freddie says it isn't."

"Well, it isn't a circus trick, anyhow," declared her brother. "I
meant a circus trick."

"Well, Snoop is a good cat, anyhow," went on Flossie, "and I wish we
had him back."

"Oh, so do I!" exclaimed Freddie, and thus that little dispute ended.

They were walking along through a little patch of woods now, when Bert,
who was the last one in line, suddenly called out:

"Something is coming after us!"

"Coming after us? What do you mean?" asked Nan quickly, as she hurried
to her father's side.

"I mean I've been listening for two or three minutes now, to some
animal following after us along the path. Some big animal, too."

Flossie and Freddie both ran back and took hold of their mother's hands.

"Don't scare the children, Bert," said Mr. Bobbsey, a bit sternly.
"Did you really hear something?"

"Yes, father. It's some animal walking behind us. Listen and you can
hear it your self."

They all listened. It was very quiet. Then from down the hard dirt
path they all heard the "pitpat, pitpat" of the footsteps of some
animal. It was coming on slowly.

For a moment Mr. Bobbsey thought of the wild animals of the circus. In
spite of what the men had said perhaps one of the beasts might have
escaped from its cage. The others in the little party evidently
thought the same thing. Mrs. Bobbsey drew her children more closely
about her.

"'Deed an' if it's one ob dem elephants," said Dinah, "an' if he comes
fo' me I'll jab mah hat pin in his long nose--dat's what I will!"

"It can't be an el