A brakeman came into the car where the Bobbseys were.

"There's no danger," he said. "Please keep your seats. A circus train
that was running ahead of us got off the track, and some of the animals
are loose. Our train nearly ran into an elephant, and that's why the
engineer had to stop so suddenly. We will go on I soon."

"A circus, eh?" said Mr. Bobbsey. "Well, well! This is an adventure,
children. We've run into a circus train! Let's watch them catch the
animals."

CHAPTER II
SNOOP IS GONE

"PAPA, do you think a tiger would come in here?" asked Freddie,
remembering all the stories of wild animals he had heard in his four
years.

"Or a lion?" asked Flossie.

"Of course not!" exclaimed Nan. "Can't you see that all the wild
animals are still in their cages?"

"Maybe some of 'em are loose," suggested Freddie, and he almost hoped
so, as long as his father was there to protect him.

"I guess the circus men can look after them," said Bert. "May I get
off, father, and look around?"