“Breakfast? Is there a dining-car on the train?” “Yes, for the manager and the star performers, but we’ll take ours in the tent.” “The tent? I thought--why--are we at the next place where we’re going to show?” “That’s what,” answered Sam. “Come on. It’s only a short walk to the grounds, and if you don’t hustle there may be no steak left.” Jack looked from the window of his berth. He saw that the train was in a railroad yard, and from the flatcars men were sliding down the big animal cages. He hurriedly dressed, made his toilet in the washroom of the car, and went out to find Sam waiting for him. They were soon at the circus grounds, and the boy clown saw a crowd of men laying out the canvas for the big tent. The animal tent was already up, as was the dining one. While Jack had been sleeping the circus employees had been busy at work. Many performers were arriving from the train, and there was an appetizing smell of coffee and meat on the fresh morning air. Gathered about were scores of small boys, and Jack remembered the time when he, as a little lad, used to get up early to see the circus come in. Men were leading the camels and elephants to water, hundreds of horses were being driven here and there, there was the rumble of heavy wagons containing tents and poles, the deeper thunder of the wheels of the chariots and gilded cages that went in the street parade, the sound of men yelling and shouting--seemingly confusion added to confusion. Yet slowly order was coming out of disorder. “Come on,” advised Sam. “There’s a good meal waiting for us, and we don’t want to be left.” Jack followed his friend toward the dining-tent. As he passed the heavy cage containing the hippopotamus, he heard a man, concealed on one side of it, saying: “He says it was an accident, but I know better. Some one put him up to it. I’ll spoil his act the first chance I get. I’ll be even with him.” “Yes, and I’ll help you,” spoke another voice, and then Jack saw Otto Mitz, the ringmaster, and Ted Chester walking away. Jack had made two mean enemies since joining the circus, and through no fault of his own, for though he could understand why the clown should bear him a grudge, from not understanding how the accident had occurred, he saw no reason for the ringmaster holding enmity against him. CHAPTER XVI THE FLYING MACHINE