Mr. Bobbsey came running down the aisle to where Flossie and Freddie
still sat, dazed.

"Are you hurt?" he cried, picking them both up together, which was
rather hard to do.

"No - no," said Freddie slowly.

"Oh, papa, what is it?" asked Flossie, wondering whether she was going
to cry.

"I don't know, my dear. Nothing serious, I guess. The engineer must
have put the brakes on too quickly. I'll look out and see."

Knowing that his children were safe, Mr. Bobbsey put them down and led
them back to where his wife was anxiously waiting.

"They're all right," he called. "No one seems to be hurt."

Bert Bobbsey looked out of the window. Though darkness had fallen there
seemed to be many lights up ahead of the stopped train. And in the
light Bert could see some camels, an elephant or two, a number of
horses, and cages containing lions and tigers strung out along the
track.

"Why - why, what's this - a circus?" he asked. "Look, Nan! See
those monkeys!"

"Why, it is a circus - and the train must have been wrecked!"
exclaimed his sister. "Oh mamma, what can it be?"