said Mrs. Moss , as the little girls hastily sat down together on their private and particular bench opposite their mother , brimming with curiosity and beaming with satisfaction at the prospect before them . CHAPTER IV HIS STORY `` I ran away from a circus , '' began Ben , but got no further , for Bab and Betty gave a simultaneous bounce of delight , and both cried out at once , -- `` We 've been to one ! It was splendid ! '' `` You would n't think so if you knew as much about it as I do , '' answered Ben , with a sudden frown and wriggle , as if he still felt the smart of the blows he had received . `` We do n't call it splendid ; do we , Sancho ? '' he added , making a queer noise , which caused the poodle to growl and bang the floor irefully with his tail , as he lay close to his master 's feet , getting acquainted with the new shoes they wore . `` How came you there ? '' asked Mrs. Moss , rather disturbed at the news . `` Why , my father was the ` Wild Hunter of the Plains . ' Did n't you ever see or hear of him ? '' said Ben , as if surprised at her ignorance . `` Bless your heart , child , I have n't been to a circus this ten years , and I 'm sure I do n't remember what or who I saw then , '' answered Mrs. Moss , amused , yet touched by the son 's evident admiration for his father . `` Did n't you see him ? '' demanded Ben , turning to the little girls . `` We saw Indians and tumbling men , and the Bounding Brothers of Borneo , and a clown and monkeys , and a little mite of a pony with blue eyes . Was he any of them ? '' answered Betty , innocently . `` Pooh ! he did n't belong to that lot . He always rode two , four , six , eight horses to oncet , and I used to ride with him till I got too big .
My father was A No. 1 , and did n't do any thing but break horses and ride 'em , '' said XXXXX , with as much pride as if his parent had been a President .
Bab Ben Betty Borneo Hunter Indians Moss Pooh Sancho wriggle