riding ahead on the black mare, and we are bound to make an impression.
Get through at a good bat, and they won't have time to look twice at the
man-monkey before it's all over. Just a dash through and back to the
tent, and we can be under cover again before they're fairly out of their
houses. I tell you, sir, it will make Bull frog wild with curiosity."

Madame Marve, the Egyptian Mystic, favoured the scheme, and Professor
Thunder agreed. The caravan was prepared, and Madame Marve, wearing a
much bespangled, but rather seedy, pantomime, fairy costume, stood by the
box seat, playing a lively air on the cornet; Professor Thunder, with a
flowing mane of hair and a Buffalo Bill rig-out, drove the horses. From
the sides of the big vehicle hung highly-coloured posters, while above
flared the name of the show in long, red letters.

The black mare Nickie rode was one of the three hired to drag the Museum
into Bullfrog. She was a rather spirited little beast, and had shown
great perturbation when Mr. Crips, in his full make-up as Mahdi, the
Missing Link, approached to mount. Now she cantered ahead at a smart
pace, still nervous about the monstrous thing upon her back. The caravan
came rattling after, Professor Thunder keeping up a volley of whip
cracks, and Madame tooting gaily.

It was early in the day, and the township had lain drowsing in its dust
under the shimmer of a great yellow sun till this astonishing invasion
struck it, and startled it from its accustomed lethargy. There was a rush
to windows and doors, men fell over each other struggling from Harvey's
bar, a sudden mutiny arose in the little wooden school, and children
swarmed at the windows, and poured pell-mell from the doors. The people
of Bullfrog caught only a fleeting glimpse of a huge monkey crouched
man-wise on a gaily caparisoned pony, of Madame Marve in her fairy