“We are, almost,” Jerry admitted.

“Gee, my arms ache,” Chris remarked.

“You boys had better rub each other’s backs with liniment while I get your breakfast,” Mother ’Larkey said, getting a bottle down from the cupboard.

“Did Danny get a ticket, too?” Celia Jane asked.

“No,” said Chris.

“Why, where is Danny?” inquired his mother.

“I don’t know,” replied Chris.  “He was asleep when we left.  We tried to wake him but he wouldn’t get up.”

“Land’s sakes!” exclaimed Mrs. Mullarkey.  “He must still be upstairs, fast asleep!  I heard you calling him and then heard you tiptoeing downstairs and out of the house and thought he was with you.”  She went to the foot of the stairs and called and the sleepy voice of Danny answered: 

“All right.  Is it time for the circus to unload?”

“It unloaded hours ago,” she replied, “and Chris and Jerry have got back with each of them a ticket to the circus for helping carry water for the elephants.”

“Why didn’t you call me!” wailed Danny.

“Chris and Jerry called you,” answered his mother.  “I heard them and heard you answer.  It’s your own fault for being such a sleepyhead.”

It didn’t take Danny long to dress and get downstairs, his hair all tousled and his eyes still heavy with sleep.  “Let’s see your tickets,” he demanded.

Chris let him see his, but kept a possessive hold of one end.  There it was: 

    BURROWS AND FAIRCHILD’S

    MAMMOTH CIRCUS AND
    MENAGERIE

    ADMIT ONE

    COMPLIMENTARY

“That’s a ticket, all right,” Danny remarked.  “Was that all you had to do to get it—­carry water for the el’funts?”

“Yes,” replied Chris, “but it took hours and hours.  I’m sore all over.”

“So’m I,” said Jerry.

“Why didn’t you make me wake up?”

“We called you and pounded you and turned you over,” Chris replied, “but you went back to sleep.”

“Why didn’t you kick me or pull me out of bed?” Danny asked.  “Then mebbe I’d’ve got a ticket, too.”

“Mebbe you can, anyway,” said Celia Jane.  “The el’funts’ll want a drink at noon.”

“I’ll go out and see,” said Danny and was hurrying off at once, but Mrs. Mullarkey made him wait for breakfast.  He bolted the oatmeal and bread and raced out of the house.

“I’m glad I’m not a sleepy-head like Danny,” said Chris.

“So’m I,” echoed Jerry.

CHAPTER VIII

THE CROCODILE TEARS OF CELIA JANE

Jerry could hardly wait until time for the parade.  He and Chris were both too excited to play; they stayed in the house most of the time and questioned Mother ’Larkey about what she had seen at the circus the time her husband had taken her to one in the city.  She was busy sewing on a dress for Mrs. Johnson which was wanted by Saturday night and was at length obliged to send them out of doors with orders to stay out until dinner was ready.