children looked all around the animal tent. The
ground had been covered with straw, and the mice might be hiding in
this, or among the boxes and barrels in the tent. But, look as every one
did, the mice were not to be found.

"What's in that box?" asked Sue, pointing to one covered with a horse
blanket.

"That's the lion," answered Bunker Blue. "But don't be afraid," he went
on, as he saw Sue step to one side. "He's asleep now. Besides he can't
hurt anyone. You'll see, when we have the circus."

No one knew where the white mice had gone. Even Splash could not find
them, though both Bunny and Sue told their dog to look for Sam's pets.

"I guess Splash isn't a rat dog," said Ben.

"No, and I'm glad he isn't," Sam said. "Rat dogs might think white mice
were made for them to shake and kill, just as they shake and kill the
other kind of rats and mice. I'd rather lose my white mice, and never
see them again, than have them killed."

But, even though the white mice were missing, the circus would go on
just the same. And now began a busy time for all the big boys. The show
would be given in two more days, and there was much to be done before
that time.

Sam and Bunker Blue had painted some signs which they tacked up on
Grandpa Brown's barn, as well as on the barns of some of the other
farmers. Everybody was invited to come to the circus, and those who
wanted to could give a little money to help pay for the hire of the big
tent. Many of the farmers and their wives said they would do this.

One by one the animal cages, which were just wooden boxes with wooden
slats nailed in front, were brought into the animal tent. They were put
around in a circle on the straw which covered the ground.

In the other tent the boys had made a little wooden platform, like a
stage. They had put up trapezes and bars, on which they could do all
sorts of tricks, such as hanging by their hands, by their heels and even
by their chins.

No one except themselves knew what Bunny and his sister Sue were going
to do. The children had kept their secret well. They had asked their
grandma for two old bed sheets, and she had let them take the white
pieces of cloth. Bunny and Sue were making something in the harness room
of the barn, and they kept the door shut so no one could look in.

It was the night before the circus, and Bunny and Sue had gone to bed.
They were almost asleep when, in the next room, they heard their mother
call:

"Oh, Walter!"