“Whoa!” yelled Sam, and now he pulled in tighter than ever on the reins.  But on and on went the bay steed, straight through the lane leading to the Rovers’ barn.

“He’ll smash us up!” gasped Fred.

“Hi! hi!” came from the barnyard and then Dick Rover came into view.  His quick eye took in the situation in an instant and he made a grand dash to reach Chips’ head.  He was successful, and in spite of the steed’s efforts to throw him off, held on until at last the bay was brought to a standstill, trembling in every limb and covered with foam.

“How did this happen, Samuel?” asked his uncle, as he too came forward.

“A fellow with circus bills scared him,” answered Sam, and he added:  “I’d just like to catch that fellow and give him a piece of my mind!”

“And so would I,” added Fred.

“Are either of you hurt?”

“No.”

“Let us be thankful for that,” said Mr. Rover; and then had the horse taken to the stable by Jack Ness.

CHAPTER XIV

FUN AT THE SHOW

As soon as the family were assembled and Fred had been greeted all around, Sam told of what had happened since he had started out to have his hair cut.

“Well, you’ve had your share of happenings,” declared Mrs. Rover.  “It is a wonder you are alive to tell of them.”

“We ought to go after Lew Flapp,” said Dick.  “He ought to be arrested by all means.”

“Yes, but where are you going to look for him?”

“Perhaps he will take the late train to-night from Oak Run.”

“That’s an idea,” came from Tom.  “Let us watch the train.”

This was decided upon, and he and Dick, accompanied by their father, went to Oak Run that evening for that purpose.  But Lew Flapp and Dan Baxter took the train from a station three miles away, so the quest was unsuccessful.

“I guess he didn’t let the grass grow under his feet,” said Sam, the next morning.  “No doubt he was badly scared.”

“What could he have been doing in this neighborhood?” asked Dick.

“I give it up.”

During the day Sam got his hair cut and also returned the clothing loaned to him by the cemetery keeper’s daughter.  While in Oak Run he met the fellow who was distributing circus bills.

“You want to be more careful when distributing bills,” said he to the man.

“What’s the matter with you?” growled the circus agent.

“You scared my horse yesterday and made him run away.”

“Oh, go tumble over yourself,” growled the fellow, and turned away.

The manner of the man angered Sam, and likewise angered Tom, who happened to be along.

“Some of those circus chaps think they own the earth,” was Tom’s comment.  “I’ve a good mind to go to his old circus and have some fun with the outfit.”

“Just the thing, Tom!  Let us ask the others to go too.  I haven’t seen a circus in a long time.”