ch me," Snowball told him. "Johnnie said
something yesterday about our joining the circus. No doubt you've
noticed the circus posters on the side of the barn?"

"I have," said the black lamb with something like a sneer. "No doubt
you've noticed the picture of the tiger?"

"Yes, I have," Snowball admitted.

"My uncle joined a circus once," said the black lamb.

"Is that so?" cried Snowball. "Tell me--did he enjoy it?"

"I can't say," the black lamb replied. "He never came back again. They
fed him to the tiger--so I have been told."

And then the black lamb started to run. And suddenly Snowball whisked
about and followed him.

Johnnie Green wondered what had come over Snowball. Was this the pet
that had once followed him all the way to school?

"I'll keep him tied up in the barn for a few days--once I catch him,"
thought Johnnie. If he intended to teach circus tricks to Snowball he
certainly didn't want to spend valuable time chasing him all around the
pasture.

At last Johnnie Green had Snowball cornered. At last he slipped a rope
about Snowball's neck. And then he led his pet towards the bars.

"_Baa-a-a!_" called the black lamb.

It sounded so much like a jeer that Johnnie turned around and made a
face at the black rascal.

In the barnyard Johnnie brought forth a paper-covered hoop. He held it
up in front of Snowball. "Jump!" he cried.

But Snowball drew back.

"_Baa-a-a!_" he bleated. "How do I know that there isn't a tiger behind
that thing?"

"Come!" Johnnie urged him. "Jump! Jump!"

Snowball only moved further away.

And then Johnnie Green lowered the paper-covered hoop and stepped
forward to grasp Snowball by his fleece.

As Johnnie's hand let the hoop fall Snowball gave a frightened blat.
Staring right at him, and grinning horribly, was a tiger pasted upon the
side of the barn.

Snowball turned and ran towards the gate.

XI

CRACKED CORN

The next time Johnnie Green dragged Snowball into the farmyard he shut
the gate carefully behind him.

"We'll never join the circus if you're going to behave like this,"
Johnnie told Snowball severely. "Now, you pay attention!"

He held up a bare hoop--not a paper-covered one--and when he said,
"Jump!" Snowball showed that he had not forgotten his lesson of the
afternoon before.

"That's better!" cried Johnnie Green. "Jump again!" And when Snowball
jumped once more Johnnie was so pleased that he went into the chicken
house and came back