It took nearly all the money the boys could scrape up between
them to pay off the captain of the tog, and when they had been
landed at one of the docks they wondered what they had best do
next.

"We've got to stay here over night," said Dick.

"We may as well telegraph to Captain Putnam for cash," and this
they did, and put up at one of the hotels.

The place was crowded, for there was a, circus in the town and a
public auction of real estate had also taken place that day. The
boys could get only a small room, but over this they did not
complain. Their one thought was of and the rascals who had
carried her off.

"We most get on the track somehow," said Dick. But how, was the
question. He could not sleep and after the others had retired
took a long walk, just to settle his nerves.

Dick's walk brought him to the lot where the circus had held
forth, and for some time he watched the men as they worked under
the flaring gasoline torches, packing up what still remained on
the grounds. The tent men had to labor like slaves in rolling up
the huge stretches of canvas and in hoisting the long poles into
the wagons, and he shook his head grimly as he turned away.

"No circus life in mine," he mused, "at least, not that part of
it."