hnnie Green was greatly relieved.

The crowd made such a roar, with its talking and laughter, that old Spot
cowered down under the carryall and almost wished he had stayed at home.
The cries of men selling peanuts and popcorn, squawkers and toy
balloons, mingled with the shouts of small boys and the squeals of their
sisters.

"Goodness!" Spot murmured. "What a racket! It hurts my ears."

A moment later he stuck his nose out from beneath the carriage and burst
into a mournful howl.

"Keep still!" Farmer Green ordered.

Little did he know, then, what made Spot cry like that. But in a minute
or two Johnnie Green heard the same thing that Spot's sharp ears had
caught first. And Johnnie howled too.

"Hear the band!" he shouted. "Hurrah! The parade's coming!"

XXI

THE CIRCUS PARADE

The crash and blare of the circus band came nearer and nearer. Johnnie
Green craned his neck out of the carryall, as it stood at the side of
Main Street, and tried to get a glimpse of the parade.

Old dog Spot did not howl again, but stole out beside the bays and
looked up the street too.

Soon a man with a tall, shiny hat on his head rode a proud, prancing
horse around a corner. And behind him six more horses with gay plumes on
their bridles made a wide turn as they swung into view. On top of the
high red wagon that they drew sat the band, all in red suits and
playing away like mad.

Spot couldn't help whining. Although the bandsmen were playing the
liveliest air they knew, music always made Spot sad. And he was glad
when the band wagon had passed on.

Other wagons, blazoned with red and gold, followed.

Old dog Spot's hair began to rise along his back and he sniffed,
growling. He had noticed a strange mixture of the queerest odors. He
didn't know, for a moment, whether to run away or not.

"Oh, see the tiger!" Johnnie Green shouted. "And the lions! And the
monkeys! And the bear!"

"_See_ them!" Spot yelped. "I say, _smell_ them!"

He felt better when the animals in their cages had gone creaking past.
And he forgot his uneasiness as he watched dozens of horses, ridden by
folk whose bespangled clothes glittered in the sunlight.

Then came a funny man in a little, two-wheeled cart, driving a donkey.
This was the clown. He bowed and smiled to everybody, right and left,
and even threw kisses at some of the girls. His painted face, his
bag-like clothes, and his odd little round, pointed hat made Johnnie
Green laugh. An