"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, January.As January is the first month of the year, so is this January first in the donkeyworld.You will observe how docile and kind he appears.Yet, ladies and gentlemen, the management of this show will give a hundred dollars to any person who can stick on his back for a full minute--only sixty seconds, ladies and gentlemen.Do you know of any easier or faster way to make money? Six thousand dollars an hour if you stay that long.Who will be the first to earn the money?"It was the first time the announcement had been made from the ring.Mr.Sparling had given his consent, even though he had not seen the act.He had, however, observed Teddy engaged in a tussle with the beast that afternoon, and could readily understand that what Teddy told him about January's contrariness was not overdrawn.
A colored man came down from the audience, and, throwing off his coat, announced his intention of riding the mule.
January appeared to have no objection, permitting the colored man to get on his back without offering the least opposition.To Teddy, who stood in front of the animal, grinning, there was a glint in the eye of the mule that spelled trouble for the colored man.
Suddenly January reared, then as quickly tipped the other way until it appeared to the spectators as if he were standing on his head.
The rider suddenly landed on his back in the sawdust.
"The gentleman loses," announced the ringmaster."Is there any other gentleman in the audience who thinks he can earn one hundred dollars a minute--six thousand dollars an hour?"No one appeared to be anxious to make the attempt.
Manuel, in the meantime, had drawn closer, paying strict attention to the words of the ringmaster.
"You give money for riding the burro?" questioned the little Spaniard."Burro?This is no Mexican burro, this is a donkey!" sniffed Teddycontemptuously.
The ringmaster instantly scented an opportunity to have some fun, and at the same time make the audience laugh.He glanced about to see if Mr.Sparling were under the big top, and not seeing him, instantly decided to take a long chance.
"Do you think you can ride January, sir?""I ride burro."
"Very well, it is your privilege to do so if you can.Ladies and gentlemen, this clown has never before attempted this feat.He thinks he can ride the donkey.If he succeeds he will receive the reward offered by the management of the show, just the same as you would have done had you performed the feat."Teddy stroked January's nose, then leaning over, the Circus Boy whispered in the animal's ear.
"January," he said, "you've got a solemn duty to perform.If you shirk it you are no longer a friend of mine, and you get no more candy-- understand?No more candy."January curled his upper lip ever so little and brayed dismally."That's right; I knew you would agree to the sentiment.""Get away from his head, Master Teddy.The Spanish clown is about to distinguish himself," announced the ringmaster.
Manuel was an agile little fellow.While the announcement was being made he had been taking mental measurement of the beast and deciding upon his course of action.
Ere Teddy had stepped back the Spaniard took a running start, and, with a leap, landed fairly on the back of the donkey.
The latter, taken by surprise, cleared the ground with all four feet and bucked, but the rider had flung his arms about the donkey's neck, clinging with both feet to the beast's body, grimly determined to win that hundred dollars or die in the attempt.
"Go it, January," encouraged Teddy."Give it to him! Soak him hard!"January stood on his hind feet, then on his head, as it were, but still the Spaniard clung doggedly.
By this time the donkey had begun to get angry.He had been taken an unfair advantage of and he did not like it.Suddenly he launched into a perfect volley of kicks, each kick giving the rider such a violent jolt that he was rapidly losing his hold.
"Keep it up!Keep it up!You've got him!" exulted the Circus Boy.The audience was howling with delight.
"There he goes!" shrieked Teddy.
Manuel, now as helpless as a ship without a rudder, was being buffeted over the back of the plunging animal.
Manuel was yelling in his native language, but if anyone understood what he was saying, that one gave no heed.Teddy, on the other hand, was urging January with taunt and prod of the ringmaster's whip.
Suddenly the Spanish clown was bounced over the donkey's rump, landing on the animal's hocks.It was January's moment--the moment he had been cunningly waiting and planning for.The donkey's hoofs shot up into the air with the clown on them.The hoofs were quickly drawn back, but the Spanish clown continued right on, sailing through the air like a great gaudy projectile.
The audience yelled its approval.
Manuel landed with a crash in the midst of the lower grandstand seats.A second later there was a mix-up that required the united services of a dozen ring attendants to straighten out.
In the meantime, Teddy Tucker was rolling on the ground near the center pole, howling with delight, while January, with lowered head, was trotting innocently toward the paddock.
The ringmaster's whistle trilled for the next act, and the show went on with its characteristic dash and sprightliness.
However, Teddy Tucker's plan to get one of the Spanish hat- throwing clowns into trouble had been an entire success.He had succeeded, also, in making another bitter enemy for the Circus Boys.
