The fascinations which the circus has always exercised over the minds of young people is so well known, that the author has felt justified in selecting the hero of the present story from that class of public performers who appeal so powerfully to the imagination of his young readers. In order to prepare himself for his task, he has made personal acquaintance with more than one hero of the ring, and has sought to furnish an inside view of the life which he describes. He hopes that the result may prove acceptable to the juvenile public in whose behalf he is always glad to labor. HORATIO ALGER, JR. March 13, 1883. CONTENTS CHAPTER. PAGE I. Anak, the Norwegian Giant 7 II. Anak's Exploits 15 III. The Wrath of Mr. Tarbox 24 IV. Mr. Tarbox Invokes the Majesty of the Law 32 V. Tarbox and the Constable go to the Circus 41 VI. Tarbox is Defeated 50 VII. The Evening Entertainment 59 VIII. A Scheming Nephew 68 IX. Two Boys on a Tramp 77 X. Trapped 85 XI. Dismay at the Home of Tarbox 94 XII. The Canvas Man 102 XIII. Catching a Thief 110 XIV. Chestnutwood 115 XV. A Compact 120 XVI. The Canvas Man 127 XVII. An Athletic Contest 136 XVIII. The Canvas Man finds a Bonanza 144 XIX. A Farce and a Tragedy 153 XX. The Amateur Detectives 162 XXI. Catching a Burglar 171 XXII. Robert Rudd Leaves the Circus 180 XXIII. What the Letter Contained 188 XXIV. Robert Meets his Employer 193 XXV. At Niagara Falls 198 XXVI. A Victim of Treachery 207 XXVII. Robert finds Himself in a Tight Place 216 XXVIII. Robert Subdues a Horse 225 XXIX. An Unpleasant Acquaintance 234 XXX. The Tree of Refuge 241 XXXI. Hercules—the Strong Man 247 XXXII. Fitzgerald's Disappointment 253 XXXIII. Fitzgerald Sees an Apparition 262 XXXIV. The Mystery of Robert Rudd is Solved 266 THE STAR OF THE CIRCUS. CHAPTER I. ANAK, THE NORWEGIAN GIANT.