"Ain't he a officer of the law? That's what I want to know," said Tarbox. "Why, yes." "Then let him do his duty. I've put a warrant into his hands, and Squire Price and I expect him to execute it." "Suppose he's killed?" suggested Mrs. Spriggins. Her husband looked nervous at the possibility hinted at, but Tarbox was inexorable. "Then you can be proud of his dyin' while doin' his duty. Come, constable, I've no time to waste. Come along!" "You're real mean!" ejaculated Mrs. Spriggins, tearfully. Tarbox deigned no answer, but strode out of the yard, followed by the reluctant constable. Few words were said, but when they were half way to the circus grounds a bright idea struck Spriggins. "I say, Mr. Tarbox," he said, eagerly, "can't we compromise this thing?" "I don't know what you mean." "You might authorize me to say to the giant in a friendly kind of way that your feelin's are hurt, that it's probably all a misunderstandin', and propose to make up." "Spriggins, are you a fool? Do you think I'm goin' to compromise after I've been shaken almost to pieces and my dog has been kicked to death?" "He might agree to buy you a new dog, if it was properly set before him." "A new dog wouldn't make up for Bruiser. He scared all the children in the neighborhood. I shan't see his like again. What I want is—revenge!" "Why don't you lay for him then yourself, and not drag me into it?" "Spriggins, I believe you're a coward—you're afraid of this Enoch." "Who wouldn't be afraid of a man eight or nine feet high?" "I ain't afraid of him," said Tarbox, stoutly. "I'll stand by you; we'll face him together." Seeing that there was no disposition to yield on the part of his client, if I may so designate Mr. Tarbox, the constable continued on his way, grasping the warrant in uneasy fingers. It was some distance to the circus grounds, but the way seemed all too short for Constable Spriggins, who felt like a man approaching an enemy's battery. At length they came in sight of the circus grounds. Around the big tent were congregated a crowd of men and boys, and a stream of people was already marching up to the box office to buy tickets, while hitched to trees and posts were carriages and wagons of all descriptions which had been employed to convey intending spectators from the town round about. Nothing draws like a circus in the country, or perhaps we may add in the city also. "There's goin' to be a crowd," remarked the constable. "Yes; fools and their money are soon parted. I never went to a circus in all my life. It's all foolery." "I went once when I was a boy, and I liked it. I little thought under what circumstances I should make my second visit," said Spriggins, ruefully. "Circuses are wicked, in my opinion," said Tarbox. "I'd close 'em all up if I could; we'll do what we can to stop this." By this time they had got into the crowd at the entrance.