"I wonder what he has up his sleeve," mused Mr.Sparling shrewdly, suspecting that Phil was about to try something he had never done in the ring before."I hope he won't take any long chances, for I can't afford to have anything happen to my little star performer."As a matter of fact both Phil and Teddy Tucker had become star performers, and were so featured on the circus bills, where their pictures had been placed for this, their third season out.The year before they had appeared on the small bills in the shop windows, but now they had the satisfaction of seeing themselves portrayed in life-size on the big boards.
Phil sent his ring horse forward at a lively gait, which grew faster and faster, as he sat lightly on the animal's rump, urging it along.
All at once he bounded to his feet, poised an instant, then threw himself into a succession of handsprings until he resembled a whirling pink and gold wheel.
This was a new act in the circus world, and such of the other performers as were under the big top at the moment paused to watch it.
No one was more surprised than Mr.Sparling himself.He knew what a difficult feat it was that the Circus Boy had not only essayed, but succeeded in doing.Phil kept it up at such length, and with such stubborn persistence, that the owner of the show feared lest the lad, in his dizziness might get a bad fall.
Doing a series of such rapid handsprings on the level ground is calculated to make a performer's head swim.But how much more difficult such an effort is on the slippery back of a moving horse may well be imagined.
Finally, red of face, panting, breathless, Phil Forrest alighted on his feet, well back on the ring horse's rump.
"Be ready to catch me," he gasped.The ringmaster understood.
Phil urged his horse to a run about the sawdust arena.
"Now, what's that fool boy going to do?" wondered Mr.Sparling.
All at once Phil Forrest threw himself up into the air, his body doubling like a ball as he did so.
One--two--three times he whirled about in his marvelous backwardsomersault.
"Let go your tuck!" commanded the ringmaster, meaning that Phil was to release the grip of his hands which were holding his legs doubled close against his body.
The lad quickly straightened up, spreading his arms to steady himself in his descent.Fortunately he was dropping feet first, due to his instant obedience of the ringmaster's order.
Perhaps that alone saved the Circus Boy from breaking his neck, for so dizzy was he that he was unable to tell whether he was dropping feet or head first.
He alighted on his feet and the ringmaster caught him deftly."Stand steady a minute, till you get your bearings, Phil."Phil needed that moment to steady himself, for the big top seemed to be whirling about on a pivot.
Now he began dimly to hear the thunders of applause that greeted his really wonderful performance.
"Can you stand alone now?"
"I think so," came the faint reply that was instantly drowned in the great uproar.
But the lad wavered a little after the ringmaster had released his grip.Steadying himself quickly, Phil pulled on his slippers and walked slowly from the ring, dizzy, but happy with the shouts of his school fellows ringing in his ears.
He heard the voice of Mr.Sparling close by him, saying:
"Great, great, my boy! Finest exhibition ever seen in a sawdust ring!"Phil tripped proudly past the grandstand seats, where the boys were howling like a pack of wild Indians.
But just then something else occurred to attract their attention.
A donkey, long-eared, long-haired, dirty and unkempt trotted into the ring and spun about like a top for a full minute.
On the ludicrous-looking beast's back sat a boy in the makeup of a blackface clown.In his mouth was a harmonica, that he played lustily, as he sat facing to the rear with his back toward the donkey's head.
At that moment something else was observable.Instead of traveling head first, as any self-respecting donkey is supposed to do, this particular donkey was walking backwards.Yes, he was galloping backwards.
The instant the audience noted that, their cheers changed to howls of delight.The clown was Teddy Tucker, and the donkey was the surprise he had been storing up for this very occasion.While the audience laughed and jeered, Mr.Sparling looked on in surprise not unmixed with amazement.Here was the very thing he had been looking for, but had been unable thus far to find.
"It's a winner!" he cried, as Teddy Tucker and his strange mount ambled by him in a gait such as never had been seen in a sawdust arena before.
Right around the arena traveled boy and donkey.When opposite the grandstand seats, where the high school students were sitting, Teddy nearly drove them wild by drawing out the class colors which he had been hiding under his coat.
In a shrill, high-pitched voice he gave utterance to the high school class yell, which was instantly taken up by the class and eventually by the spectators themselves, until all seemed near the verge of hysterics.
Phil, instead of proceeding directly to the dressing tent, had waited by the bandstand to watch the new act of his companion, and he, with others of the performers, was laughing heartily as he leaned against the bandstand.Teddy knew he made a funny appearance, but just how ludicrous he could have little idea.
"Whose donkey is that?" demanded Mr.Sparling, hurrying up just as Phil and the other circus folks were congratulating the lad.
"He's mine," rejoined Teddy."Where did you get him?""I bought him.Think I stole him? Been training him all winter.Like him?""It's a great comedy act.He's engaged.Turn him over to the superintendent of ring stock and tell him to make a place on the train for the brute.""I've already done so."
"Oh, you have, eh?"
"Yes, sir."
"Anybody would think you owned this show, the way you give orders around here.""I'm willing, and so's the donkey," grinned Teddy."For what---to go on at every performance?""No; to own the show.We're going on right along, anyway.Gid- dap!""Hopeless!" muttered Sparling, shaking his head.
