ing.

But the circus came to an end at last, and though they were sorry they
had to leave, Bunny and Sue were, late in the afternoon, well on their
way to their automobile camp again. They talked of nothing but what they
had seen, and every time they spoke of the show they liked it more and
more.

"I wish we could go again to-night," said Bunny.

"It isn't good for little children to go to a circus at night," said
Uncle Tad. "You've seen enough."

Of course Daddy Brown and Mother Brown had to hear all about it over the
supper table, and they were glad the children had had such a good time.
At night when they sat around a little campfire on the ground near the
automobile, they could hear, in the distance, the music of the circus.

In the middle of the night Mr. and Mrs. Brown were awakened by hearing
the noise of many persons rushing past on the road alongside of which
their automobile was drawn up. Also the chugging of automobiles and the
patter of horses' feet could be heard.

"I wonder what it can be," said Mrs. Brown. "Is it the circus coming
back again?"

"No, they would be going the other way. I'll see if I can find out what
it is."

Slipping on a bath robe, Mr. Brown went to the back door of the
automobile. He saw a crowd of people rushing along.

"What's the matter?" he called.

"One of the circus lions is loose," was the answer, "and we're chasing
it!"

[Illustration: BUNNY AND SUE FED THE ELEPHANTS.
_Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue on an Auto Tour._ _Page_ 218.]

CHAPTER XXIII

THE SCRATCHED BOY

"What's that? What's the matter?" asked Mrs. Brown. In the darkness she
had slipped to her husband's side. She, too, looked out on the crowd of
men and boys rushing past in the moonlight. "What has happened?" she
asked again, as Mr. Brown did not appear to have heard what she said.

"As nearly as I could understand," he said slowly, speaking in a low
voice, "one of the men who ran past said a lion had broken loose from
the circus."

"Oh, how dreadful!" exclaimed Mrs. Brown. "What shall we do? Did Uncle
Tad bring his gun with him?"

"Hush! Don't wake the children," said Mr. Brown. "They might be
frightened if they heard that a lion was loose."

"Frightened? I should think any one would be frightened!" exclaimed
Mrs. Brown. "A savage lion raging around at night, trying to get
something to eat----"

"Now please don't get excited," begged Mr. Brown. "There is no
danger--at least I believe