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+***Project Gutenberg Etext: The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings***
+Or Making the Start in the Sawdust Life, by Edgar B. P. Darlington
+
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+The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
+Or
+Making the Start in the Sawdust Life
+
+by Edgar B. P. Darlington
+
+January, 2001  [Etext #2474]
+
+
+***Project Gutenberg Etext: The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings***
+Or Making the Start in the Sawdust Life, by Edgar B. P. Darlington
+*******This file should be named 2474.txt or 2474.zip*******
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+This Etext was prepared for Project Gutenberg by Greg Berckes
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+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER
+I      THE LURE OF THE CIRCUS
+II     PHIL HEARS HIS DISMISSAL
+III    MAKING HIS START IN THE WORLD
+IV     THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN
+V      WHEN THE BANDS PLAYED
+VI     PROVING HIS METTLE
+VII    MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE ELEPHANTS
+VIII   IN THE SAWDUST ARENA
+IX     GETTING HIS FIRST CALL
+X      PHIL GETS A SURPRISE
+XI     THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE SHOW
+XII    A THRILLING RESCUE
+XIII   THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY
+XIV    AN UNEXPECTED HIT
+XV     A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
+XVI    HIS FIRST SETBACK
+XVII   LEFT BEHIND
+XVIII  A STARTLING DISCOVERY
+XIX    TEDDY DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
+XX     THE RETURN TO THE SAWDUST LIFE
+XXI    AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL
+XXII   EMPEROR ANSWERS THE SIGNAL
+XXIII  THE MYSTERY SOLVED
+XXIV   CONCLUSION
+
+
+
+The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE LURE OF THE CIRCUS
+
+"I say, Phil, I can do that."
+
+"Do what, Teddy?"
+
+"A cartwheel in the air like that fellow is doing in the picture
+on the billboard there."
+
+"Oh, pshaw!  You only think you can.  Besides, that's not a
+cartwheel; that's a double somersault.  It's a real stunt, let me
+tell you.  Why, I can do a cartwheel myself.  But up in the air
+like that--well, I don't know.  I guess not.  I'd be willing to
+try it, though, if I had something below to catch me," added the
+lad, critically surveying the figures on the poster before them.
+
+"How'd you like to be a circus man, Phil?"
+
+Phil's dark eyes glowed with a new light, his slender figure
+straightening until the lad appeared fully half a head taller.
+
+"More than anything else in the world," he breathed.  "Would
+you?"
+
+"Going to be," nodded Teddy decisively, as if the matter were
+already settled.
+
+"Oh, you are, eh?"
+
+"Uh-huh!"
+
+"When?"
+
+"I don't know.  Someday--someday when I get old enough, maybe."
+
+Phil Forrest surveyed his companion with a half critical smile on
+his face.
+
+"What are you going to do--be a trapeze performer or what?"
+
+"Well," reflected the lad wisely, "maybe I shall be an 'Or What.'
+I'm not sure.  Sometimes I think I should like to be the fellow
+who cracks the whip with the long lash and makes the clowns hop
+around on one foot--"
+
+"You mean the ringmaster?"
+
+"I guess that's the fellow.  He makes 'em all get around lively.
+Then, sometimes, I think I would rather be a clown.  I can skin a
+cat on the flying rings to beat the band, now.  What would you
+rather be, Phil?"
+
+"Me?  Oh, something up in the air--high up near the peak of the
+tent--something thrilling that would make the people sit up on
+the board seats and gasp, when, all dressed in pink and spangles,
+I'd go flying through the air--"
+
+"Just like a bird?" questioned Teddy, with a rising inflection in
+his voice.
+
+"Yes.  That's what I'd like most to do, Teddy," concluded the
+lad, his face flushed with the thought of the triumphs that might
+be his.
+
+Teddy Tucker uttered a soft, long-drawn whistle.
+
+"My, you've got it bad, haven't you?  Never thought you were that
+set on the circus.  Wouldn't it be fine, now, if we both could
+get with a show?"
+
+"Great!" agreed Phil, with an emphatic nod.  "Sometimes I think
+my uncle would be glad to have me go away--that he wouldn't care
+whether I joined a circus, or what became of me."
+
+"Ain't had much fun since your ma died, have you, Phil?"
+questioned Teddy sympathetically.
+
+"Not much," answered the lad, a thin, gray mist clouding his
+eyes. "No, not much.  But, then, I'm not complaining."
+
+"Your uncle's a mean old--"
+
+"There, there, Teddy, please don't say it.  He may be all you
+think he is, but for all the mean things he's said and done to
+me, I've never given him an impudent word, Teddy.  Can you guess
+why?"
+
+"Cause he's your uncle, maybe," grumbled Teddy.
+
+"No, 'cause he's my mother's brother--that's why."
+
+"I don't know.  Maybe I'd feel that way if I'd had a mother."
+
+"But you did."
+
+"Nobody ever introduced us, if I did.  Guess she didn't know me.
+But if your uncle was my uncle do you know what I'd do with him,
+Phil Forrest?"
+
+"Don't let's talk about him.  Let's talk about the circus. It's
+more fun," interrupted Phil, turning to the billboard again and
+gazing at it with great interest.
+
+They were standing before the glowing posters of the Great
+Sparling Combined Shows, that was to visit Edmeston on the
+following Thursday.
+
+Phillip Forrest and Teddy Tucker were fast friends, though they
+were as different in appearance and temperament as two boys well
+could be.  Phil was just past sixteen, while Teddy was a little
+less than a year younger.  Phil's figure was slight and graceful,
+while that of his companion was short and chubby.
+
+Both lads were orphans.  Phil's parents had been dead for
+something more than five years.  Since their death he had been
+living with a penurious old uncle who led a hermit-like existence
+in a shack on the outskirts of Edmeston.
+
+But the lad could remember when it had been otherwise--when he
+had lived in his own home, surrounded by luxury and refinement,
+until evil days came upon them without warning.  His father's
+property had been swept away, almost in a night.  A year later
+both of his parents had died, leaving him to face the world
+alone.
+
+The boy's uncle had taken him in begrudgingly, and Phil's life
+from that moment on had been one of self-denial and hard work.
+Yet he was thankful for one thing--thankful that his miserly old
+uncle had permitted him to continue at school.
+
+Standing high in his class meant something in Phil's case, for
+the boy was obliged to work at whatever he could find to do after
+school hours, his uncle compelling him to contribute something to
+the household expenses every week.  His duties done, Phil was
+obliged to study far into the night, under the flickering light
+of a tallow candle, because oil cost too much.  Sometimes his
+candle burned far past the midnight hour, while he applied
+himself to his books that he might be prepared for the next day's
+classes.
+
+Hard lines for a boy?
+
+Yes.  But Phil Forrest was not the lad to complain.  He went
+about his studies the same as he approached any other task that
+was set for him to do--went about it with a grim, silent
+determination to conquer it.  And he always did.
+
+As for Teddy--christened Theodore, but so long ago that he had
+forgotten that that was his name--he studied, not because he
+possessed a burning desire for knowledge, but as a matter of
+course, and much in the same spirit he did the chores for the
+people with whom he lived.
+
+Teddy was quite young when his parents died leaving him without a
+relative in the world.  A poor, but kind-hearted family in
+Edmeston had taken the lad in rather than see him become a public
+charge. With them he had lived and been cared for ever since.  Of
+late years, however, he had been able to do considerable toward
+lightening the burden for them by the money he managed to earn
+here and there.
+
+The two boys were on their way home from school.  There remained
+but one more day before the close of the term, which was a matter
+of sincere regret to Phil and of keen satisfaction to his
+companion. Just now both were too full of the subject of the
+coming show to think of much else.
+
+"Going to the show, Phil?"
+
+"I am afraid not."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"I haven't any money; that's the principal reason," smiled the
+boy.  "Are you?"
+
+"Sure.  Don't need any money to go to a circus."
+
+"You don't?"
+
+"No."
+
+"How do you manage it?"
+
+"Crawl in under the tent when the man ain't looking," answered
+Teddy promptly.
+
+"I wouldn't want to do that," decided the older lad, with a shake
+of the head.  "It wouldn't be quite honest.  Do you think so?"
+
+Teddy Tucker shrugged his shoulders indifferently.
+
+"Never thought about it.  Don't let myself think about it. Isn't
+safe, for I might not go to the show if I did.  What's your other
+reason?"
+
+"For not going to the circus?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Well, I don't think Uncle would let me; that's a fact."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Says circuses and all that sort of thing are evil influences."
+
+"Oh, pshaw!  Wish he was my uncle," decided Teddy belligerently.
+"How long are you going to stand for being mauled around like a
+little yellow dog?"
+
+"I'll stand most anything for the sake of getting an education.
+When I get that then I'm going to strike out for myself, and do
+something in the world.  You'll hear from me yet, Teddy Tucker,
+and maybe I'll hear from you, too."
+
+"See me, you mean--see me doing stunts on a high something-or-
+other in a circus.  Watch me turn a somersault."
+
+The lad stood poised on the edge of the ditch, on the other side
+of which the billboard stood.  This gave him the advantage of an
+elevated position from which to attempt his feat.
+
+"Look out that you don't break your neck," warned Phil.  "I'd try
+it on a haymow, or something like that, first."
+
+"Don't you worry about me.  See how easy that fellow in the
+picture is doing it.  Here goes!"
+
+Teddy launched himself into the air, with a very good imitation
+of a diver making a plunge into the water, hands stretched out
+before him, legs straight behind him.
+
+He was headed straight for the ditch.
+
+"Turn, Teddy!  Turn!  You'll strike on your head."
+
+Teddy was as powerless to turn as if he had been paralyzed from
+head to foot.  Down he went, straight as an arrow.  There
+followed a splash as his head struck the water of the ditch, the
+lad's feet beating a tattoo in the air while his head was stuck
+fast in the mud at the bottom of the ditch.
+
+"He'll drown," gasped Phil, springing down into the little
+stream, regardless of the damage liable to be done to his own
+clothes.
+
+Throwing both arms about the body of his companion he gave a
+mighty tug.  Teddy stuck obstinately, and Phil was obliged to
+take a fresh hold before he succeeded in hauling the lad from his
+perilous position.  Teddy was gasping for breath.  His face,
+plastered with mud, was unrecognizable, while his clothes were
+covered from head to foot.
+
+Phil dumped him on the grass beneath the circus billboard and
+began wiping the mud from his companion's face, while Teddy
+quickly sat up, blinking the mud out of his eyes and grumbling
+unintelligibly.
+
+"You're a fine circus performer, you are," laughed Phil.
+"Suppose you had been performing on a flying trapeze in a circus,
+what do you suppose would have happened to you?"
+
+"I'd have had a net under me then, and I wouldn't have fallen in
+the ditch," grunted Teddy sullenly.
+
+"What do you suppose the folks will say when you go home in that
+condition?"
+
+"Don't care what they say.  Fellow has got to learn sometime, and
+if I don't have any worse thing happen to me than falling in a
+ditch I ought to be pretty well satisfied.  Guess I'll go back
+now.  Come on, go 'long with me."
+
+Phil turned and strode along by the side of his companion until
+they reached the house where Teddy lived.
+
+"Come on in."
+
+"I'm sorry, Teddy, but I can't.  My uncle will be expecting me,
+and he won't like it if I am late."
+
+"All right; see you tomorrow if you don't come out again tonight.
+We'll try some more stunts then."
+
+"I wouldn't till after the circus, were I in your place," laughed
+Phil.
+
+"Why not!"
+
+"Cause, if you break your neck, you won't be able to go to the
+show."
+
+"Huh!" grunted Teddy, hastily turning his back on his companion
+and starting for the house.
+
+Phil took his way home silently and thoughtfully, carrying his
+precious bundle of books under an arm, his active mind planning
+as to how he might employ his time to the best advantage during
+the summer vacation that was now so close at hand.
+
+A rheumatic, bent figure was standing in front of the shack where
+the lad lived, glaring up the street from beneath bushy eyebrows,
+noting Phil Forrest's leisurely gait disapprovingly.
+
+Phil saw him a moment later.
+
+"I'm in for a scolding," he muttered.  "Wonder what it is all
+about this time.  I don't seem able to do a thing to please Uncle
+Abner."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+PHIL HEARS HIS DISMISSAL
+
+"Where you been, young man?"  The question was a snarl rather
+than a sentence.
+
+"To school, Uncle, of course."
+
+"School's been out more than an hour.  I say, where have you
+been?"
+
+"I stopped on the way for a few minutes."
+
+"You did?" exploded Abner Adams.  "Where?"
+
+"Teddy Tucker and I stopped to read a circus bill over there on
+Clover Street.  We did not stop but a few minutes.  Was there any
+harm in that?"
+
+"Harm?  Circus bill--"
+
+"And I want to go to the circus, too, Uncle, when it comes here.
+You know?  I have not been to anything of that sort since mother
+died--not once.  I'll work and earn the money.  I can go in the
+evening after my work is finished.  Please let me go, Uncle."
+
+For a full minute Abner Adams was too overcome with his emotions
+to speak.  He hobbled about in a circle, smiting the ground with
+his cane, alternately brandishing it threateningly in the air
+over the head of the unflinching Phil.
+
+"Circus!" he shouted.  "I might have known it!  I might have
+known it!  You and that Tucker boy are two of a kind.  You'll
+both come to some bad ending.  Only fools and questionable
+characters go to such places--"
+
+"My mother and father went, and they always took me," replied the
+boy, drawing himself up with dignity.  "You certainly do not
+include them in either of the two classes you have named?"
+
+"So much the worse for them!  So much the worse for them.  They
+were a pair of--"
+
+"Uncle, Uncle!" warned Phil.  "Please don't say anything against
+my parents.  I won't stand it.  Don't forget that my mother was
+your own sister, too."
+
+"I'm not likely to forget it, after she's bundled such a baggage
+as you into my care.  You're turning out a worthless, good-for-
+nothing loaf--"
+
+"You haven't said whether or not I might go to the circus,
+Uncle," reminded Phil.
+
+"Circus?  No!  I'll have none of my money spent on any such
+worthless--"
+
+"But I didn't ask you to spend your money, even though you have
+plenty of it.  I said I would earn the money--"
+
+"You'll have a chance to earn it, and right quick at that. No,
+you won't go to any circus so long as you're living under my
+roof."
+
+"Very well, Uncle, I shall do as you wish, of course," answered
+Phil, hiding his disappointment as well as he could.  The lad
+shifted his bundle of books to the other hand and started slowly
+for the house.
+
+Abner Adams hobbled about until he faced the lad again, an angry
+gleam lighting up his squinting eyes.
+
+"Come back here!"
+
+Phil halted, turning.
+
+"I said come back here."
+
+The lad did so, his self-possession and quiet dignity never
+deserting him for an instant.  This angered the crabbed old uncle
+more than ever.
+
+"When will you get through school?"
+
+"Tomorrow, I believe."
+
+"Huh!  Then, I suppose you intend to loaf for the rest of the
+summer and live on my hard earned savings.  Is that it?"
+
+"No, sir; I hadn't thought of doing anything of the sort. I
+thought--"
+
+"What did you think?"
+
+"I thought I would find something to do.  Of course, I do not
+expect to be idle.  I shall work at something until school begins
+again next fall, then, of course, I shall not be able to do so
+much."
+
+"School!  You've had enough school!  In my days boys didn't spend
+the best part of their lives in going to school.  They worked."
+
+"Yes, sir; I am willing to work, too.  But, Uncle, I must have an
+education.  I shall be able to earn so much more then, and, if
+necessary, I shall be able to pay you for all you have spent on
+me, which isn't much, you know."
+
+"What, what?  You dare to be impudent to me?  You--"
+
+"No, sir, I am not impudent.  I have never been that and I never
+shall be; but you are accusing me wrongfully."
+
+"Enough.  You have done with school--"
+
+"You--you mean that I am not to go to school any more--that I
+have got to go through life with the little I have learned?  Is
+that what you mean, Uncle?" asked the boy, with a sinking heart.
+
+"You heard me."
+
+"What do you want me to do?"
+
+"Work!"
+
+"I am working and I shall be working," Phil replied.
+
+"You're right you will, or you'll starve.  I have been thinking
+this thing over a lot lately.  A boy never amounts to anything if
+he's mollycoddled and allowed to spend his days depending on
+someone else.  Throw him out and let him fight his own way.
+That's what my father used to tell me, and that's what I'm going
+to say to you."
+
+"What do you mean, Uncle?"
+
+"Mean?  Can't you understand the English language?  Have I got to
+draw a picture to make you understand?  Get to work!"
+
+"I am going to as soon as school is out."
+
+"You'll do it now.  Get yourself out of my house, bag and
+baggage!"
+
+"Uncle, Uncle!" protested the lad in amazement.  "Would you turn
+me out?"
+
+"Would I?  I have, only you are too stupid to know it.  You'll
+thank me for it when you get old enough to have some sense."
+
+Phil's heart sank within him, and it required all his
+self-control to keep the bitter tears from his eyes.
+
+"When do you wish me to go?" he asked without a quaver in his
+voice.
+
+"Now."
+
+"Very well, I'll go.  But what do you think my mother would say,
+could she know this?"
+
+"That will do, young man.  Do your chores, and then--"
+
+"I am not working for you now, Uncle, you know, so I shall have
+to refuse to do the chores.  There is fifty cents due me from Mr.
+Churchill for fixing his chicken coop.  You may get that, I don't
+want it."
+
+Phil turned away once more, and with head erect entered the
+house, going straight to his room, leaving Abner Adams fuming and
+stamping about in the front yard.  The old man's rage knew no
+bounds.  He was so beside himself with anger over the fancied
+impudence of his nephew that, had the boy been present, he might
+have so far forgotten himself as to have used his cane on Phil.
+
+But Phil by this time had entered his own room, locking the door
+behind him.  The lad threw his books down on the bed, dropped
+into a chair and sat palefaced, tearless and silent.  Slowly his
+eyes rose to the old-fashioned bureau, where his comb and brush
+lay. The eyes halted when at length they rested on the picture of
+his mother.
+
+The lad rose as if drawn by invisible hands, reached out and
+clasped the photograph to him.  Then the pent-up tears welled up
+in a flood.  With the picture pressed to his burning cheek Phil
+Forrest threw himself on his bed and sobbed out his bitter grief.
+He did not hear the thump of Abner Adams' cane on the bedroom
+door, nor the angry demands that he open it.
+
+"Mother, Mother!" breathed the unhappy boy, as his sobs gradually
+merged into long-drawn, trembling sighs.
+
+Perhaps his appeal was not unheard.  At least Phil Forrest sprang
+from his bed, holding the picture away from him with both hands
+and gazing into the eyes of his mother.
+
+Slowly his shoulders drew back and his head came up, while an
+expression of strong determination flashed into his own eyes.
+
+"I'll do it--I'll be a man, Mother!" he exclaimed in a voice in
+which there was not the slightest tremor now.  "I'll fight the
+battle and I'll win."
+
+Phil Forest had come to the parting of the ways, which he faced
+with a courage unusual in one of his years.  There was little to
+be done.  He packed his few belongings in a bag that had been his
+mother's.  The lad possessed one suit besides the one he wore,
+and this he stowed away as best he could, determining to press it
+out when he had located himself.
+
+Finally his task was finished.  He stood in the middle of the
+floor glancing around the little room that had been his home for
+so long.  But he felt no regrets.  He was only making sure that
+he had not left anything behind.  Having satisfied himself on
+this point, Phil gathered up his bundle of books, placed the
+picture of his mother in his inside coat pocket, then threw open
+the door.
+
+The lad's uncle had stamped to the floor below, where he was
+awaiting Phil's coming.
+
+"Good-bye, Uncle," he said quietly, extending a hand.
+
+"Let me see that bag," snapped the old man.
+
+"The bag is mine--it belonged to my mother," explained the boy.
+"Surely you don't object to my taking it with me?"
+
+"You're welcome to it, and good riddance; but I'm going to find
+out what's inside of it."
+
+"You surely don't think I would take anything that doesn't belong
+to me--you can't mean that?"
+
+"Ain't saying what I mean.  Hand over that bag."
+
+With burning cheeks, Phil did as he was bid, his unwavering eyes
+fixed almost sternly on the wrathful face of Abner Adams.
+
+"Huh!" growled the old man, tumbling the contents out on the
+floor, shaking Phil's clothes to make sure that nothing was
+concealed in them.
+
+Apparently satisfied, the old man threw the bag on the floor with
+an exclamation of disgust.  Phil once more gathered up his
+belongings and stowed them away in the satchel.
+
+"Turn out your pockets!"
+
+"There is nothing in them, Uncle, save some trinkets of my own
+and my mother's picture."
+
+"Turn them out!" thundered the old man.
+
+"Uncle, I have always obeyed you.  Obedience was one of the
+things that my mother taught me, but I'm sure that were she here
+she would tell me I was right in refusing to humiliate myself as
+you would have me do.  There is nothing in my pockets that does
+not belong to me.  I am not a thief."
+
+"Then I'll turn them out myself!" snarled Abner Adams, starting
+forward.
+
+Phil stepped back a pace, satchel in hand.
+
+"Uncle, I am a man now," said the boy, straightening to his full
+height.  "Please don't force me to do something that I should be
+sorry for all the rest of my life.  Will you shake hands with
+me?"
+
+"No!" thundered Abner Adams.  "Get out of my sight before I lay
+the stick over your head!"
+
+Phil stretched out an appealing hand, then hastily withdrew it.
+
+"Good-bye, Uncle Abner," he breathed.
+
+Without giving his uncle a chance to reply, the lad turned,
+opened the door and ran down the steps.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+MAKING HIS START IN THE WORLD
+
+The sun was just setting as Phil Forrest strode out of the yard.
+Once outside of the gate he paused, glancing irresolutely up and
+down the street.  Which way to turn or where to go he did not
+know. He had not thought before of what he should do.
+
+Phil heard the clatter of Abner Adams' stick as the old man
+thumped about in the kitchen.
+
+Suddenly the door was jerked open with unusual violence.
+
+"Begone!" bellowed Mr. Adams, brandishing his cane threateningly.
+
+Phil turned down the street, without casting so much as a glance
+in the direction of his wrathful uncle, and continued on toward
+the open country.  To anyone who had observed him there was
+nothing of uncertainty in the lad's walk as he swung along. As a
+matter of fact, Phil had not the slightest idea where he was
+going.  He knew only that he wanted to get away by himself.
+
+On the outskirts of the village men had been at work that day,
+cutting and piling up hay.  The field was dotted with heaps of
+the fragrant, freshly garnered stuff.
+
+Phil hesitated, glanced across the field, and, noting that the
+men had all gone home for the day, climbed the fence.  He walked
+on through the field until he had reached the opposite side of
+it. Then the lad placed his bag on the ground and sat down on a
+pile of hay.
+
+With head in hands, he tried to think, to plan, but somehow his
+mind seemed unable to perform its proper functions.  It simply
+would not work.
+
+"Not much of a start in the world, this," grinned Phil, shifting
+his position so as to command a better view of the world, for he
+did not want anyone to see him.  "I suppose Uncle Abner is
+getting supper now.  But where am I going to get mine?  I hadn't
+thought of that before.  It looks very much as if I should have
+to go without.  But I don't care.  Perhaps it will do me good to
+miss a meal," decided the boy sarcastically.  "I've been eating
+too much lately, anyhow."
+
+Twilight came; then the shadows of night slowly settled over the
+landscape, while the lad lay stretched out on the sweet-smelling
+hay, hands supporting his head, gazing up into the starlit sky.
+
+Slowly his heavy eyelids fluttered and closed, and Phil was
+asleep. The night was warm and he experienced no discomfort.  He
+was a strong, healthy boy, so that sleeping out of doors was no
+hardship to him.  All through the night he slept as soundly as if
+he had been in his own bed at home.  Nor did he awaken until the
+bright sunlight of the morning finally burned his eyelids apart.
+
+Phil started up rubbing his eyes.
+
+At first he wondered where he was.  But the sight of his bag
+lying a little to one side brought back with a rush the memory of
+what had happened to him the evening before.
+
+"Why, it's morning," marveled the lad, blinking in the strong
+sunlight. "And I've slept on this pile of hay all night.  It's
+the first time I ever slept out of doors, and I never slept
+better in my life. Guess I'll fix myself up a little."
+
+Phil remembered that a little trout stream cut across the field
+off to the right.  Taking up his bag, he started for the stream,
+where he made his toilet as best he could, finishing up by lying
+flat on his stomach, taking a long, satisfying drink of the
+sparkling water.
+
+"Ah, that feels better," he breathed, rolling over on the bank.
+After a little he helped himself to another drink.  "But I've got
+to do something.  I can't stay out here in this field all the
+rest of my life.  And if I don't find something to eat I'll
+starve to death.  I'll go downtown and see if I can't earn my
+breakfast somehow."
+
+Having formed this resolution, Phil took up his belongings and
+started away toward the village.  His course led him right past
+Abner Adams' house, but, fortunately, Mr. Adams was not in sight.
+Phil would have felt a keen humiliation had he been forced to
+meet the taunts of his uncle.  He hurried on past the house
+without glancing toward it.
+
+He had gone on for some little way when he was halted by a
+familiar voice.
+
+"Hello, Phil!  Where are you going in such a hurry and so early
+in the morning?"
+
+Phil started guiltily and looked up quickly at the speaker.
+
+"Good morning, Mrs. Cahill.  What time is it?"
+
+"It's just past four o'clock in the morning."
+
+"Gracious!  I had no idea it was so early as that," exclaimed the
+lad.
+
+"If you are not in such a great hurry, stop a bit," urged the
+woman, her keen eyes noting certain things that she did not give
+voice to.  She had known Phil Forrest for many years, and his
+parents before him.  Furthermore, she knew something of the life
+he had led since the death of his parents.  "Had your breakfast?"
+
+"Well--"
+
+"Of course you haven't.  Come right in and eat with me," urged
+the good-hearted widow.
+
+"If you will let me do some chores, or something to pay for it, I
+will," agreed Phil hesitatingly.
+
+"Nothing of the kind!  You'll keep me company at breakfast; then
+you'll be telling me all about it."
+
+"About what?"
+
+" 'Bout your going away," pointing significantly to the bag that
+Phil was carrying.
+
+He was ravenously hungry, though he did not realize it fully
+until the odor of the widow's savory cooking smote his nostrils.
+
+She watched him eat with keen satisfaction.
+
+"Now tell me what's happened," urged Mrs. Cahill, after he had
+finished the meal.
+
+Phil did so.  He opened his heart to the woman who had known his
+mother, while she listened in sympathetic silence, now and then
+uttering an exclamation of angry disapproval when his uncle's
+words were repeated to her.
+
+"And you're turned out of house and home?  Is that it, my boy?"
+
+"Well, yes, that's about it," grinned Phil.
+
+"It's a shame."
+
+"I'm not complaining, you know, Mrs. Cahill.  Perhaps it's the
+best thing that could have happened to me.  I've got to start out
+for myself sometime, you know.  I'm glad of one thing, and that
+is that I didn't have to go until school closed.  I get through
+the term today, you know?"
+
+"And you're going to school today?"
+
+"Oh, yes.  I wouldn't want to miss the last day."
+
+"Then what?"
+
+"I don't know.  I shall find something else to do, I guess. I
+want to earn enough money this summer so that I can go to school
+again in the fall."
+
+"And you shall.  You shall stay right here with the Widow Cahill
+until you've got through with your schooling, my lad."
+
+"I couldn't think of that.  No; I am not going to be a burden to
+anyone.  Don't you see how I feel--that I want to earn my own
+living now?"
+
+She nodded understandingly.
+
+"You can do some chores and--"
+
+"I'll stay here until I find something else to do," agreed Phil
+slowly.  "I shan't be able to look about much today, because I'll
+be too busy at school; but tomorrow I'll begin hunting for a job.
+What can I do for you this morning?"
+
+"Well, you might chop some wood if you are aching to exercise
+your muscles," answered the widow, with a twinkle in her eyes.
+She knew that there was plenty of wood stored in the woodhouse,
+but she was too shrewd an observer to tell Phil so, realizing, as
+she did, that the obligation he felt for her kindness was too
+great to be lightly treated.
+
+Phil got at his task at once, and in a few moments she heard him
+whistling an accompaniment to the steady thud, thud of the axe as
+he swung it with strong, resolute arms.
+
+"He's a fine boy," was the Widow Cahill's muttered conclusion.
+
+Phil continued at his work without intermission until an hour had
+passed.  Mrs. Cahill went out, begging that he come in and rest.
+
+"Rest?  Why, haven't I been resting all night?  I feel as if I
+could chop down the house and work it up into kindling wood, all
+before school time.  What time is it?"
+
+"Nigh on to seven o'clock.  I've wanted to ask you something ever
+since you told me you had left Abner Adams.  It's rather a
+personal question."
+
+The lad nodded.
+
+"Did your uncle send you away without any money?"
+
+"Of course.  Why should he have given me anything so long as I
+was going to leave him?"
+
+"Did you ever hear him say that your mother had left a little
+money with him before she died--money that was to be used for
+your education as long as it lasted?"
+
+Phil straightened up slowly, his axe falling to the ground, an
+expression of surprise appeared in his eyes.
+
+"My mother left money--for me, you say?" he wondered.
+
+"No, Phil, I haven't said so.  I asked you if Abner had ever said
+anything of the sort?"
+
+"No.  Do you think she did?"
+
+"I'm not saying what I think.  I wish I was a man; I'd read old
+Abner Adams a lecture that he wouldn't forget as long as he
+lives."
+
+Phil smiled indulgently.
+
+"He's an old man, Mrs. Cahill.  He's all crippled up with
+rheumatism, and maybe he's got a right to be cranky--"
+
+"And to turn his own sister's child outdoors, eh?  Not by a long
+shot. Rheumatics don't give anybody any call to do any such a
+thing as that. He ought to have his nose twisted, and it's me, a
+good church member, as says so."
+
+The lad picked up his axe and resumed his occupation, while Mrs.
+Cahill turned up a chunk of wood and sat down on it, keeping up a
+running fire of comment, mostly directed at Abner Adams, and
+which must have made his ears burn.
+
+Shortly after eight o'clock Phil gathered his books, strapped
+them and announced that he would be off for school.
+
+"I'll finish the woodpile after school," he called back, as he
+was leaving the gate.
+
+"You'll do nothing of the sort," retorted the Widow Cahill.
+
+Darting out of the yard, Phil ran plump into someone, and halted
+sharply with an earnest apology.
+
+"Seems to me you're in a terrible rush about something. Where you
+going?"
+
+"Hello, Teddy, that you?"
+
+"It's me," answered Teddy ungrammatically.
+
+"I'm on my way to school."
+
+"Never could understand why anybody should want to run when he's
+going to school.  Now, I always run when I start off after
+school's out.  What you doing here?" demanded the boy, drawing
+his eyelids down into a squint.
+
+"I've been chopping some wood for Mrs. Cahill."
+
+"Huh!  What's the matter with the bear this morning?"
+
+"The bear?"
+
+Teddy jerked a significant thumb in the direction of Phil's
+former home.
+
+"Bear's got a grouch on a rod wide this morning."
+
+"Oh, you mean Uncle Abner," answered Phil, his face clouding.
+
+"Yep."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"I just dropped in to see if you were ready to go to school. He
+yelled at me like he'd gone crazy."
+
+"That all?" grinned the other boy.
+
+"No.  He chased me down the road till his game knee gave out;
+then he fell down."
+
+Phil could not repress a broad grin at this news.
+
+"Good thing for me that I could run.  He'd have given me a
+walloping for sure if he'd caught me.  I'll bet that stick hurts
+when it comes down on a fellow.  Don't it, Phil?"
+
+"I should think it would.  I have never felt it, but I have had
+some pretty narrow escapes.  What did the folks you are living
+with say when you got home all mud last night?"
+
+Teddy grinned a sheepish sort of grin.
+
+"Told me I'd better go out in the horse barn--said my particular
+style of beauty was better suited to the stable than to the
+kitchen."
+
+"Did you?"
+
+"Well, no, not so as you might notice it.  I went down to the
+creek and went in swimming, clothes and all.  That was the
+easiest way.  You see, I could wash the mud off my clothes and
+myself all at the same time."
+
+"It's a wonder they let you in at all, then."
+
+"They didn't; at least not until I had wrung the water out of my
+trousers and twisted my hair up into a regular top-knot.  Then I
+crawled in behind the kitchen stove and got dried out after a
+while.  But I got my supper.  I always do."
+
+"Yes; I never knew you to go without meals."
+
+"Sorry you ain't going to the circus tomorrow, Phil."
+
+"I am.  Teddy, I'm free.  I can do as I like now.  Yes, I'll go
+to the circus with you, and maybe if I can earn some money
+tonight I'll treat you to red lemonade and peanuts."
+
+"Hooray!" shouted Teddy, tossing his hat high in the air.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN
+
+The Sparling Combined Shows came rumbling into Edmeston at about
+three o'clock the next morning.  But, early as was the hour, two
+boys sat on the Widow Cahill's door-yard fence watching the
+wagons go by.
+
+The circus was one of the few road shows that are now traveling
+through the country, as distinguished from the great modern
+organizations that travel by rail with from one to half a dozen
+massive trains.  The Sparling people drove from town to town.
+They carried twenty-five wagons, besides a band wagon, a
+wild-west coach and a calliope.
+
+"Phil!  Phil!  Look!" exclaimed Teddy, clutching at his
+companion's coat sleeve, as two hulking, swaying figures appeared
+out of the shadows of the early morning.
+
+"Where?"
+
+"There."
+
+"Elephants!  There's two of them."
+
+"Ain't that great?  I didn't suppose they'd have any elephants.
+Wonder if there's any lions and tigers in those big wagons."
+
+"Of course there are.  Didn't you see pictures of them on the
+bills, Teddy?"
+
+"I don't know.  Dan Marts, the postmaster, says you can't set any
+store by the pictures.  He says maybe they've got the things you
+see in the pictures, and maybe they haven't.  There's a camel!
+Look at it!  How'd you like to ride on that hump all day?"
+questioned Teddy gleefully.
+
+"Shouldn't like it at all."
+
+"I read in my geography that they ride on them all the time on
+the--on--on Sarah's Desert."
+
+"Oh, you mean the Sahara Desert--that's what you mean," laughed
+Phil.
+
+"Well, maybe."
+
+"I should rather ride an elephant.  See, it's just like a rocking
+chair.  I could almost go to sleep watching them move along."
+
+"I couldn't," declared Teddy.  "I couldn't any more go to sleep
+when a circus is going by than I could fly without wings."
+
+"See, there comes a herd of ponies.  Look how small they are. Not
+much bigger than St. Bernard dogs.  They could walk right under
+the elephants and not touch them."
+
+"Where do they all sleep?" wondered Teddy.
+
+"Who, the ponies?"
+
+"No, of course not.  The people."
+
+"I don't know unless they sleep in the cages with the animals,"
+laughed Phil.  "Some of the folks appear to be sleeping on the
+horses."
+
+"I'd be willing to go without sleep if I could be a showman,"
+mused Teddy.  "Wouldn't you?"
+
+"Sure," agreed Phil.  "Hello!  There come some more wagons. Come
+on!  We'll run down to meet them."
+
+"No; Let's go over to the grounds where the circus is coming off.
+They'll be putting up the tents first thing we know."
+
+"That's so, and I want to be around.  You going to work any,
+Teddy?"
+
+"Not I.  I'm going to see the show, but you don't catch me
+carrying pails of water for the elephants for a ticket of
+admission that don't admit you to anything except a stand-up. I
+can stand up cheaper than that."
+
+Both boys slipped from the fence, and, setting off at a jog trot,
+began rapidly overhauling and passing the slow-moving wagons with
+their tired horses and more tired drivers.
+
+By the time Teddy and Phil reached the circus grounds several
+wagons were already there.  Shouts sprang up from all parts of
+the field, while half a dozen men began measuring off the ground
+in the dim morning light, locating the best places in which to
+pitch the tents.  Here and there they would drive in a stake, on
+one of which they tied a piece of newspaper.
+
+"Wonder what that's for," thought Phil aloud.
+
+"Hey, what's the paper tied on the peg for?" shouted Teddy to a
+passing showman.
+
+"That's the front door, sonny."
+
+"Funniest looking front door I ever saw," grunted Teddy.
+
+"He means that's the place where the people enter and leave their
+tickets."
+
+"Oh, yes.  That's what they call the 'Main Entrance,'" nodded
+Teddy. "I've seen it, but I don't usually go in that way."
+
+With the early dawn figures began emerging from several of the
+wagons.  They were a sleepy looking lot, and for a time stood
+about in various attitudes, yawning, stretching their arms and
+rubbing their eyes.
+
+"Hey, boy, what town is this?" questioned a red-haired youth,
+dragging himself toward the two lads.
+
+"Edmeston."
+
+"Oh, yes.  I remember; I was here once before."
+
+"With a show?" asked Teddy.
+
+"Yes, with a Kickapoo Indian medicine man.  And he was bad
+medicine. Say, where can I wash my countenance?"
+
+"Come on; I'll show you," exclaimed Teddy and Phil in the same
+breath.
+
+They led the way to the opposite side of the field, where there
+was a stream of water.  While the circus boy was making his
+morning toilet the lads watched him in admiring silence.
+
+"What do you do?" ventured Phil.
+
+"I perform on the rings."
+
+"Up in the air?"
+
+"Uh-huh."
+
+"Ever fall off?"
+
+"I get my bumps," grinned the red-haired boy.  "My name is Rodney
+Palmer.  What's your names?"
+
+They told him.
+
+"We're going to be circus men, too," Teddy informed him, but the
+announcement did not seem to stir a deep interest in the circus
+boy. He had heard other boys say the same thing.  "Is it very
+hard work?"
+
+"Worst ever."
+
+"When do you sleep?"
+
+"When we ain't awake."
+
+"And you perform on the flying rings?"
+
+Rodney nodded his head indifferently.
+
+"I should think you'd burn the tent up with that head of red
+hair," grinned Teddy.
+
+Instead of getting angry at the boy's thrust, Rodney glanced at
+Teddy with a half questioning look in his eyes, then burst out
+laughing.
+
+"You're a cheerful idiot, aren't you?" he twinkled.  "I'll tell
+you why I don't.  Confidentially, you know?"
+
+"Sure."
+
+"I wear a wig when I'm performing.  Mebby if it wasn't for that I
+might set something on fire.  I must get over on the lot now."
+
+"You're in a lot already," Teddy informed him.
+
+"We call the place where we pitch the tents 'the lot.'  The cook
+tent must be up by this time, and I'm half starved.  The
+performance was so late yesterday afternoon that they had the
+cook tent down before I got my supper.  Will you come along?"
+
+They did.
+
+"Do you think there is anything I could do to earn a ticket to
+the show today?" asked Phil.
+
+"Yes, there's most always something for a boy to do."
+
+"Whom do I ask about it?"
+
+"Go see the boss canvasman.  I'll point him out to you as we go
+along."
+
+"Thank you.  You want to see him, too, Teddy?"
+
+"No; I don't have to."
+
+"That's him over there.  He's a grouch, but just don't let him
+bluff you.  Yes, the cook tent's about ready.  I'll sneak in and
+hook something before breakfast; then mebby I'll come back and
+talk with you."
+
+"We'll look for you in the show this afternoon," said Phil.
+
+"All right, if I see you I'll swing my hand to you," Rodney
+replied, starting for the cook tent, where the meals were served
+to the show people.
+
+"Now, I'm going to see that boss canvasman," announced Phil.
+"See, they are laying the pieces of the tents flat on the ground.
+I suppose they fasten them all together when they get them
+placed, then raise them up on the poles."
+
+"I guess so.  I don't care much so long as I don't have to do
+it."
+
+"Teddy Tucker, actually you are the laziest boy I ever knew. Why
+don't you brace up?"
+
+"Don't I have just as good a time and better, than you do?"
+
+"Guess you do."
+
+"Don't I get just as much to eat?"
+
+"I presume so," admitted Phil.
+
+"Don't I see all the shows that come to town, and go to all the
+picnics?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then, what's the use of being any more'n lazy?"
+
+Teddy's logic was too much for his companion, and Phil laughed
+heartily.
+
+"Look, the elephant is butting one of the wagons," cried Teddy.
+
+"No, they are using the elephant to push the cage around in
+place. I wonder what's in it," said Phil.
+
+A roar that fairly made the ground shake answered Phil's
+question. The cage in question held a lion, and a big, ugly one
+if his voice was any indication.  The great elephant, when the
+cage was being placed, would, at a signal from its keeper, place
+its ponderous head against one side of the cage and push, while a
+driver would steer the wagon by taking hold of the end of the
+tongue.
+
+It was a novel sight for the two boys, and they watched it with
+the keenest interest.  A man dressed in riding clothes, carrying
+a short crop in his hand, was observing the operations with equal
+interest.  He was James Sparling, the proprietor and manager of
+the Great Combined Shows, but the lads were unaware of that fact.
+Even had they known, it is doubtful if Mr. Sparling would have
+been of sufficient attraction to draw their attention from the
+working elephant.
+
+All at once there was a warning shout from Mr. Sparling.
+
+The men set up a yell, followed by a sudden scurrying from the
+immediate vicinity of the cage that the elephant had been
+shunting about.
+
+"Stop it!  Brace it!" bellowed the owner of the show, making
+frantic motions with his free hand, cutting circles and dashes in
+the air with the short crop held in the other.
+
+"What's the row?" wondered Teddy.
+
+"I--I don't know," stammered Phil.
+
+"The elephant's tipping the lion cage over!" shouted someone.
+"Run for your lives!"
+
+For once in his life Teddy Tucker executed a lightning-like
+movement. He was one of several dark streaks on the landscape
+running as if Wallace, the biggest lion in captivity, were in
+reality hard upon his heels.  As he ran, Teddy uttered a howl
+that could have been heard from one end of the circus lot to the
+other.
+
+A few of the more fearless ones, the old hands of the show, did
+not attempt to run.  Instead they stood still, fairly holding
+their breaths, waiting to see what would happen next.
+
+Mr. Sparling was too far away to be able to do anything to
+prevent the catastrophe that was hanging over them, but it did
+not prevent him from yelling like a madman at the inactive
+employees of the show.
+
+At the first cry--the instant he comprehended what was
+happening-- Phil Forrest moved every bit as quickly as had his
+companion, though he leaped in the opposite direction.
+
+All about on the ground lay tent poles of various length and
+thickness, side poles, quarter poles and the short side poles
+used to hold the tent walls in place.  These were about twenty
+feet in length and light enough to be easily handled.
+
+With ready resourcefulness and quick comprehension, Phil pounced
+upon one of these and darted toward the cage which was toppling
+over in his direction.
+
+The roof of the lion cage that housed Wallace projected over the
+edge some six inches, and this had caught the keen eyes of the
+lad at the first alarm.  His plan had been formed in a flash.
+
+He shot one end of the side pole up under the projecting roof,
+jammed the other end into the ground, throwing his whole weight
+upon the foot of the pole to hold it in place.
+
+For an instant the tent pole bent like a bow under the pull of
+the archer.  It seemed as if it must surely snap under the
+terrific strain.
+
+Phil saw this, too.  Now that the foot of the pole was firmly
+imbedded in the ground, there was no further need for him to hold
+it down.  He sprang under the pole with the swaying cage directly
+over him, grabbed the pole at the point where it was arching so
+dangerously, and pulling himself from the ground, held to the
+slippery stick desperately.
+
+Light as he was the boy's weight saved the pole.  It bent no
+further.
+
+The cage swayed from side to side, threatening to topple over at
+one end or the other.
+
+"Get poles under the ends," shouted the boy in a shrill voice. "I
+can't hold it here all day."
+
+"Get poles, you lazy good-for-nothings!" bellowed the owner.
+"Brace those ends.  Look out for the elephant.  Don't you see
+he's headed for the cage again?"
+
+Orders flew thick and fast, but through it all Phil Forrest hung
+grimly to the side pole, taking a fresh overhand hold, now and
+then, as his palms slipped down the painted stick.
+
+Now that he had shown the way, others sprang to his assistance.
+Half a dozen poles were thrust up under the roof and the cage
+began slowly settling back the other way.
+
+"Hadn't you better have some poles braced against the other side,
+sir?" suggested Phil, touching his hat to Mr. Sparling, who, he
+had discovered, was some person in authority.  "The cage may tip
+clear over on the other side, or it may drop so heavily on the
+wheels as to break the axles."
+
+"Right.  Brace the off side.  That's right.  Now let it down
+slowly. Not so hard on the nigh side there.  Ease off there,
+Bill.  Push, Patsy. What do you think this is--a game of croquet?
+There you go.  Right. Now let's see if you woodenheads know
+enough to keep the wagon right side up."
+
+Mr. Sparling took off his hat and wiped the perspiration from his
+forehead, while Phil stood off calmly surveying the men who were
+straightening the wagon, but with more caution than they had
+exercised before.
+
+"Come here, boy."
+
+Someone touched Phil on the arm.
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"Boss wants to speak to you."
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Boss Sparling, the fellow over there with the big voice and the
+sombrero."
+
+Phil walked over and touched his hat to Mr. Sparling.
+
+The showman looked the lad over from head to foot.
+
+"What's your name?"  He shot the question at the lad as if angry
+about something, and he undoubtedly was.
+
+"Phil Forrest."
+
+"Do they grow your kind around here?"
+
+"I can't say, sir."
+
+"If they do, I'd like to hire a dozen or more of them.  You've
+got more sense than any boy of your age I ever saw.  How old are
+you?"
+
+"Sixteen."
+
+"Huh!  I wish I had him!" growled Mr. Sparling.  "What do you
+want?"
+
+"I should like to have a chance to earn a pass to the show this
+afternoon.  Rodney Palmer said the boss canvasman might give me a
+chance to earn one."
+
+"Earn one?  Earn one?" Mr. Sparling's voice rose to a roar again.
+"What in the name of Old Dan Rice do you think you've been doing?
+Here you've kept a cage with a five-thousand-dollar lion from
+tipping over, to say nothing of the people who might have been
+killed had the brute got out, and you want to know how you can
+earn a pass to the show?  What d'ye think of that?" and the owner
+appealed helplessly to an assistant who had run across the lot,
+having been attracted to the scene by the uproar.
+
+The assistant grinned.
+
+"He's too modest to live."
+
+"Pity modesty isn't more prevalent in this show, then.  How many
+do you want?  Have a whole section if you say the word."
+
+"How many are there in a section?" asked Phil.
+
+" 'Bout a hundred seats."
+
+Phil gasped.
+
+"I--I guess two will be enough," he made answer.
+
+"Here you are," snapped the owner, thrusting a card at the lad,
+on which had been scribbled some characters, puzzling to the
+uninitiated.  "If you want anything else around this show you
+just ask for it, young man.  Hey, there!  Going to be all day
+getting that canvas up?  Don't you know we've got a parade coming
+along in a few hours?"
+
+Phil Forrest, more light of heart than in many days, turned away
+to acquaint his companion of his good fortune.  Teddy Tucker was
+making his way cautiously back to the scene of the excitement of
+a few moments before.
+
+"Did he get away?" Teddy questioned, ready to run at the drop of
+the hat should the danger prove to be still present.
+
+"Who, the manager?"
+
+"No, the lion."
+
+"He's in the cage where he's been all the time.  They haven't
+opened it yet, but I guess he's all right.  Say, Teddy!"
+
+"Say it."
+
+"I've got a pass to the show for two people for both
+performances--this afternoon and tonight."
+
+The interest that the announcement brought to Teddy's eyes died
+away almost as soon as it appeared.
+
+"Going?"
+
+"Am I going?  I should say so.  Want to go in with me on my pass,
+Teddy?"
+
+The lad hitched his trousers, took a critical squint at the
+canvas that was slowly mounting the center pole to the
+accompaniment of creaking ropes, groaning tackle and confused
+shouting.
+
+"They're getting the menagerie tent up.  I'll bet it's going to
+be a dandy show," he vouchsafed.  "How'd you get the tickets?"
+
+"Manager gave them to me."
+
+"What for?"
+
+"I did a little work for him.  Helped get the lion's cage
+straightened up.  How about it--are you going in on my pass?"
+
+"N-o-o," drawled Teddy.  "Might get me into bad habits to go in
+on a pass.  I'd rather sneak in under the tent when the boss
+isn't looking."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+WHEN THE BANDS PLAYED
+
+Phil started for the Widow Cahill's on the run after having
+procured his tickets.  "Here's a ticket for the circus, Mrs.
+Cahill," he shouted, bursting into the room, with excited,
+flushed face.
+
+"What's this you say--the circus?  Land sakes, I haven't seen one
+since I was--well, since I was a girl.  I don't know."
+
+"You'll go, won't you?" urged Phil.
+
+"Of course, I'll go," she made haste to reply, noting the
+disappointment in his face over her hesitation.  "And thank you
+very much."
+
+"Shall I come and get you, Mrs. Cahill, or can you get over to
+the circus grounds alone?"
+
+"Don't worry about me, my boy.  I'll take care of myself."
+
+"Your seat will be right next to mine, and we can talk while we
+are watching the performers."
+
+"Yes; you run along now.  Here's a quarter for spending money.
+Never mind thanking me.  Just take it and have a good time.
+Where's your friend?"
+
+"Teddy?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Over on the lot."
+
+"He going in with you, too?"
+
+"Oh, no.  Teddy is too proud to go in that way.  He crawls in
+under the tent," laughed Phil, running down the steps and setting
+off for the circus grounds with all speed.
+
+When he arrived there he saw at once that something was going on.
+The tents were all in place, the little white city erected with
+as much care and attention to detail as if the show expected to
+remain in Edmeston all summer.  The lad could scarcely make
+himself believe that, only a few hours before, this very lot had
+been occupied by the birds alone.  It was a marvel to him, even
+in after years, when he had become as thoroughly conversant with
+the details of a great show as any man in America.
+
+Just now there was unusual activity about the grounds.  Men in
+gaudy uniforms, clowns in full makeup, and women with long
+glistening trains, glittering with spangles from head to feet,
+were moving about, while men were decorating the horses with
+bright blankets and fancy headdress.
+
+"What are they going to do?" asked Phil of a showman.
+
+"Going to parade."
+
+"Oh, yes, that's so; I had forgotten about that."
+
+"Hello, boy--I've forgotten your name--"
+
+"Forrest," explained Phil, turning.  The speaker was Mr.
+Sparling's assistant, whom the lad had seen just after saving the
+lion cage from turning over.
+
+"Can you blow a horn as well as you can stop a wagon?"
+
+"Depends upon what kind of a horn.  I think I can make as much
+noise on a fish horn as anyone else."
+
+"That'll do as well as anything else.  Want to go in the parade?"
+
+"I'd love to!"  The color leaped to the cheeks of Phil Forrest
+and a sparkle to his eyes.  This was going beyond his fondest
+dreams.
+
+The assistant motioned to a clown.
+
+"Fix this boy up in some sort of a rig.  I'm going to put him in
+the Kazoo Band.  Bring him back here when he is ready.  Be
+quick."
+
+A long, yellow robe was thrown about the boy, a peaked cap thrust
+on his head, after which a handful of powder was slapped on his
+face and rubbed down with the flat of the clown's hand.  The fine
+dust got into the lad's nostrils and throat, causing him to
+sneeze until the tears rolled down his cheeks, streaking his
+makeup like a freshet through a plowed field.
+
+"Good," laughed the clown.  "That's what your face needs. You'd
+make a good understudy for Chief Rain-In-The-Face. Now hustle
+along."
+
+Phil picked up the long skirts and ran full speed to the place
+where the assistant had been standing.  There he waited until the
+assistant returned from a journey to some other part of the lot.
+
+"That's right; you know how to obey orders," he nodded.  "That's
+a good clown makeup.  Did Mr. Miaco put those streaks on your
+face?"
+
+"No, I sneezed them there," answered Phil, with a sheepish grin.
+
+The assistant laughed heartily.  Somehow, he had taken a sudden
+liking to this boy.
+
+"Do you live at home, Forrest?"
+
+"No; I have no home now."
+
+"Here's a fish horn.  Now get up in the band wagon--no, not the
+big one, I mean the clowns' band wagon with the hayrack on it.
+When the parade starts blow your confounded head off if you want
+to.  Make all the noise you can.  You'll have plenty of company.
+When the parade breaks up, just take off your makeup and turn it
+over to Mr. Miaco."
+
+"You mean these clothes?"
+
+"Yes.  They're a part of the makeup.  You'll have to wash the
+makeup off your face.  I don't expect you to return the powder to
+us," grinned the assistant humorously.
+
+The clowns were climbing to the hayrack.  A bugle had blown as a
+signal that the parade was ready to move.  Phil had not seen
+Teddy Tucker since returning to the lot.  He did not know where
+the boy was, but he was quite sure that Teddy was not missing any
+of the fun.  Tucker had been around circuses before, and knew how
+to make the most of his opportunities.  And he was doing so now.
+
+"Ta ra, ta ra, ta ra!" sang the bugle.
+
+Crash!  answered the cymbals and the bass drums.  The snare drums
+buzzed a long, thrilling roll; then came the blare of the brass
+as the whole band launched into a lively tune such as only circus
+bands know how to play.
+
+The parade had begun to move.
+
+It was a thrilling moment--the moment of all moments of Phil
+Forrest's life.
+
+The clowns' wagon had been placed well back in the line, so as
+not to interfere with the music of the band itself.  But Phil did
+not care where he was placed.  He only knew that he was in a
+circus parade, doing his part with the others, and that, so far
+as anyone knew, he was as much a circus man as any of them.
+
+As the cavalcade drew out into the main street and straightened
+away, Phil was amazed to see what a long parade it was.  It
+looked as if it might reach the whole length of the village.
+
+The spring sun was shining brightly, lighting up the line,
+transforming it into a moving, flashing, brilliant ribbon of
+light and color.
+
+"Splendid!" breathed the boy, removing the fish horn from his
+lips for a brief instant, then blowing with all his might again.
+
+As the wagons moved along he saw many people whom he knew.  As a
+matter of fact, Phil knew everyone in the village, but there were
+hundreds of people who had driven in from the farms whom he did
+not know.  Nor did anyone appear to recognize him.
+
+"If they only knew, wouldn't they be surprised?" chuckled the
+lad. "Hello, there's Mrs. Cahill."
+
+The widow was standing on her front door step with a dishtowel in
+one hand.
+
+In the excess of his excitement, Phil stood up, waving his horn
+and yelling.
+
+She heard him--as everybody else within a radius of a quarter of
+a mile might have--and she recognized the voice.  Mrs. Cahill
+brandished the dishtowel excitedly.
+
+"He's a fine boy," she glowed.  "And he's having the first good
+time he's had in five years."
+
+The Widow Cahill was right.  For the first time in all these
+years, since the death of his parents, Phil Forrest was carefree
+and perfectly happy.
+
+The clowns on the wagon with him were uproariously funny.  When
+the wagon stopped now and then, one whom Phil recognized as the
+head clown, Mr. Miaco, would spring to the edge of the rack and
+make a stump speech in pantomime, accompanied by all the gestures
+included in the pouring and drinking of a glass of water.  So
+humorous were the clown's antics that the spectators screamed
+with laughter.
+
+Suddenly the lad espied that which caused his own laughter to die
+away, and for the moment he forgot to toot the fish horn.  The
+parade was passing his former home, and there, standing hunched
+forward, leaning on his stick and glaring at the procession from
+beneath bushy eyebrows, stood Phil's uncle, Abner Adams.
+
+Phil's heart leaped into his throat; at least that was the
+sensation that he experienced.
+
+"I--I hope he doesn't know me," muttered the lad, shrinking back
+a little.  "But I'm a man now.  I don't care.  He's driven me out
+and he has no right to say a thing."
+
+The lad lost some of his courage, however, when the procession
+halted, and he found that his wagon was directly in front of Mr.
+Adams' dooryard, with his decrepit uncle not more than twenty
+feet away from him.  The surly, angry eyes of Abner Adams seemed
+to be burning through Phil's makeup, and the lad instinctively
+shrank back ever so little.
+
+However, at that instant the boy's attention was attracted to
+another part of the wagon.  The head clown stepped from the wagon
+and, with dignified tread, approached Abner Adams.  He grasped
+the old man by the hand, which he shook with great warmth, making
+a courtly bow.
+
+At first Abner Adams was too surprised to protest.  Then,
+uttering an angry snarl, he threw the clown off, making a vicious
+pass at him with his heavy stick.
+
+The clown dodged the blow, and made a run for the wagon, which
+was now on the move again.
+
+Phil breathed a sigh of relief.  The people had roared at the
+funny sight of the clown shaking hands with the crabbed old man;
+but to Phil Forrest there had been nothing of humor in it. The
+sight of his uncle brought back too many unhappy memories.
+
+The lad soon forgot his depression, however, in the rapid changes
+that followed each other in quick succession as on a moving-
+picture film.
+
+Reaching the end of the village street the procession was obliged
+to turn and retrace its steps over the same ground until it
+reached the business part of the town, where it would turn off
+and pass through some of the side streets.
+
+Now there were two lines, moving in opposite directions.  This
+was of interest to Phil, enabling him, as it did, to get a good
+look at the other members of the troupe.  Mr. Sparling was riding
+ahead in a carriage drawn by four splendid white horses, driven
+by a coachman resplendent in livery and gold lace, while the
+bobbing plumes on the heads of the horses added to the
+impressiveness of the picture.
+
+"I'd give anything in the world to be able to ride in a carriage
+like that," decided Phil.  "Maybe someday I shall.  We'll see."
+
+Now came the elephants, lumbering along on velvet feet.  On the
+second one there crouched a figure that somehow seemed strangely
+familiar to Phil Forrest.  The figure was made up to represent a
+huge frog.
+
+A peculiar gesture of one of the frog's legs revealed the
+identity of the figure beneath the mask.
+
+"Teddy!" howled Phil.
+
+"Have a frog's leg," retorted Teddy, shaking one of them
+vigorously at the motley collection of clowns.
+
+"Not eating frogs legs today," jeered a clown, as Teddy went
+swinging past them, a strange, grotesque figure on the back of
+the huge, hulking beast.
+
+The clowns' wagon was just on the point of turning when the men
+heard a loud uproar far down the line.  At first they thought it
+was a part of the show, but it soon became apparent that
+something was wrong.
+
+Phil instinctively let the horn fall away from his lips.  He
+peered curiously over the swaying line to learn what, if
+anything, had gone wrong.
+
+He made out the cause of the trouble almost at once.  A pony with
+a woman on its back had broken from the line, and was plunging
+toward them at a terrific pace.  She appeared to have lost all
+control of the animal, and the pony, which proved to be an ugly
+broncho, was bucking and squealing as it plunged madly down the
+street.
+
+The others failed to see what Phil had observed almost from the
+first.  The bit had broken in the mouth of the broncho and the
+reins hung loosely in the woman's helpless hands.
+
+They were almost up with the clowns' wagon when the woman was
+seen to sway dizzily in her saddle, as the leather slipped
+beneath her. Then she plunged headlong to the ground.
+
+Instead of falling in a heap, the circus woman, with head
+dragging, bumping along the ground, was still fast to the pony.
+
+"Her foot is caught in the stirrup!" yelled half a dozen men at
+once, but not a man of them made an effort to rescue her. Perhaps
+this was because none of the real horsemen of the show were near
+enough to do so.
+
+Mr. Sparling, however, at the first alarm, had leaped from his
+carriage, and, thrusting a rider from his mount, sprang into the
+saddle and came tearing down the line in a cloud of dust.  He was
+bearing down on the scene at express train speed.
+
+"The woman will be killed!"
+
+"Stop him!  Stop him!"
+
+"Stop him yourself!"
+
+But not a man made an effort to do anything.
+
+It had all occurred in a few seconds, but rapidly as the events
+succeeded each other, Phil Forrest seemed to be the one among
+them who retained his presence of mind.
+
+He fairly launched himself into the air as the ugly broncho shot
+alongside the clowns' wagon.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+PROVING HIS METTLE
+
+Familiar as they were with daring deeds, those of the circus
+people who witnessed Phil Forrest's dive gasped.
+
+They expected to see the boy fall beneath the feet of the
+plunging pony, where he would be likely to be trampled and kicked
+to death.
+
+But Phil had looked before he leaped.  He had measured his
+distance well--had made up his mind exactly what he was going to
+do, or rather what he was going to try to do.
+
+The pony, catching a brief glimpse of the dark figure that was
+being hurled through the air directly toward him, made a swift
+leap to one side.  But the animal was not quick enough.  The boy
+landed against the broncho with a jolt that nearly knocked the
+little animal over, while to Phil the impact could not have been
+much more severe, it seemed to him, had he collided with a
+locomotive.
+
+"Hang on!" howled a voice from the wagon.
+
+That was exactly what he intended to do.
+
+The cloud of dust, with Mr. Sparling in the center of it, had not
+reached them, but his keen eyes already had observed what was
+going on.
+
+"G-g-g-grab the woman!" shouted Phil.
+
+His left arm had been thrown about the broncho's neck, while his
+right hand was groping frantically for the animal's nose. But
+during all this time the pony was far from idle.  He was plunging
+like a ship in a gale, cracking the whip with Phil Forrest until
+it seemed as if every bone in the lad's body would be broken.  He
+could hear his own neck snap with every jerk.
+
+With a howl Miaco, the head clown, launched himself from the
+wagon, too.  Darting in among the flying hoofs--there seemed to
+be a score of them--he caught the woman, jerked her foot free of
+the stirrup and dragged her quickly from her perilous position.
+
+"She's free.  Let go!" he roared to the boy holding the pony.
+
+But by this time Phil had fastened his right hand on the pony's
+nostrils, and with a quick pressure shut off the animal's wind.
+He had heard the warning cry.  The lad's grit had been aroused,
+however, and he was determined that he would not let go until he
+should have conquered the fighting broncho.
+
+With a squeal of rage, the pony leaped sideways.  A deep ditch
+led along by the side of the road, but this the enraged animal
+had not noticed.  Into it he went, kicking and fighting, pieces
+of Phil's yellow robe streaming from his hoofs.
+
+The lad's body was half under the neck of the pony, but he was
+clinging to the neck and the nose of the beast with desperate
+courage.
+
+"Get the boy out of there!" thundered Mr. Sparling, dashing up
+and leaping from his pony.  "Want to let him be killed?"
+
+By this time others had ridden up, and some of the real horsemen
+in the outfit sprang off and rushed to Phil Forrest's assistance.
+Ropes were cast over the flying hoofs before the men thought it
+wise to get near them.  Then they hauled Phil out, very much the
+worse for wear.
+
+In the meantime Mr. Sparling's carriage had driven up and he was
+helping the woman in.
+
+"Is the boy hurt?" he called.
+
+"No, I'm all right, thank you," answered Phil, smiling bravely,
+though he was bruised from head to foot and his clothing hung in
+tatters.  His peaked clown's cap someone picked up in a field
+over the fence and returned to him.  That was about all that was
+left of Phil Forrest's gaudy makeup, save the streaks on his
+face, which by now had become blotches of white and red.
+
+The clowns picked him up and boosted him to the wagon, jabbering
+like a lot of sparrows perched on a telephone wire.
+
+"See you later!" shouted the voice of Mr. Sparling as he drove
+rapidly away.
+
+Phil found his horn, and despite his aches and pains he began
+blowing it lustily.  The story of his brave rescue had gone on
+ahead, however, and as the clowns' wagon moved on it was greeted
+by tremendous applause.
+
+The onlookers had no difficulty in picking out the boy who had
+saved the woman's life, and somehow the word had been passed
+around as to his identity.
+
+"Hooray for Phil Forrest!" shouted the multitude.
+
+Phil flushed under the coating of powder and paint, and sought to
+crouch down in the wagon out of sight.
+
+"Here, get up there where they can see you!" admonished a clown.
+"If you're going to be a showman you mustn't be afraid to get
+yourself in the spotlight."
+
+Two of them hoisted the blushing Phil to their shoulders and
+broke into a rollicking song, swaying their bodies in imitation
+of the movements of an elephant as they sang.
+
+At this the populace fairly howled with delight.
+
+"He's the boy, even if he ain't purty to look at," jeered someone
+in the crowd.
+
+"Handsome is as handsome does!" retorted a clown in a loud voice,
+and the people cheered.
+
+After this the parade went on without further incident, though
+there could be no doubt that the exciting dash and rescue by one
+of their own boys had aroused the town to a high pitch of
+excitement.  And the showmen smiled, for they knew what that
+meant.
+
+"Bet we'll have a turn-away this afternoon," announced a clown.
+
+"Looks that way," agreed another, "and all on account of the
+kid."
+
+"What's a turn-away?" asked Phil.
+
+"That's when there are more people want to get in than the tent
+will hold.  And it means, too, that the boss will be good natured
+till it rains again, and the wagons get stuck in the mud so that
+we'll make the next town behind time.  At such times he can make
+more noise than the steam calliope."
+
+"He seems to me to be a pretty fine sort of a man, even if he is
+gruff," suggested Phil.
+
+"The best ever," agreed several clowns.  "You'll look a long way
+before you'll find a better showman, or a better man to his help,
+than Jim Sparling.  Ever been in the show business, kid?"
+
+Phil shook his head.
+
+"Anybody'd think you always had been, the way you take hold of
+things. I'll bet you'll be in it before you are many years
+older."
+
+"I'd like to," glowed the lad.
+
+"Ask the boss."
+
+"No, he wouldn't want me.  There is nothing I could do now, I
+guess."
+
+Further conversation was interrupted by the bugle's song
+announcing the disbanding of the parade, the right of the line
+having already reached the circus lot.
+
+The clowns piled from the hayrack like a cataract, the cataract
+having all the colors of the rainbow.
+
+Phil, not to be behind, followed suit, though he did not quite
+understand what the rush was about.  He ran until he caught up
+with Miaco.
+
+"What's the hurry about?" he questioned.
+
+"Parade's over.  Got to hurry and get dinner, so as to be ready
+for the afternoon performance."
+
+All hands were heading for the dressing tent in a mad rush.
+
+Phil was halted by the assistant manager.
+
+The lad glanced down rather sheepishly at his costume, which was
+hanging in tatters, then up at the quizzically smiling face of
+the showman.
+
+"I--I'm sorry I've spoiled it, sir, but I couldn't help it."
+
+"Don't worry about that, young man.  How did it happen?" he
+questioned, pretending not to know anything about the occurrence
+in which Phil had played a leading part.
+
+"Well, you see, there was a horse ran away, and I happened to get
+in the way of it.  I--"
+
+"Yes, Forrest, I understand all about it.  Somebody did something
+to that animal to make it run away and the boss is red headed
+over it."
+
+"I--I didn't."
+
+"No, that's right.  It was lucky that there was one person in the
+parade who had some sense left, or there would have been a dead
+woman with this outfit," growled the assistant.
+
+"Was she badly hurt?"
+
+"No.  Only bruised up a bit.  These show people get used to hard
+knocks."
+
+"I'm glad she is all right.  Who is she?"
+
+"Don't you know?"
+
+"No."
+
+"That was Mr. Sparling's wife whose life you saved, and I reckon
+the boss will have something to say to you when he gets sight of
+you again."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+MAKING FRIENDS WITH THE ELEPHANTS
+
+"Is it possible?  I didn't know that," marveled the boy. "And
+does she perform?"
+
+"Everybody works in this outfit, young man," laughed the
+assistant, "as you will learn if you hang around long enough.
+Going to the show?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Got seats?"
+
+"Mr. Sparling provided me with tickets, thank you.  But I've got
+to get home first and put on some other clothes.  This suit is
+about done for, isn't it?"
+
+"I should say it was.  You did that stopping the horse, didn't
+you?"
+
+Phil nodded.
+
+"Boss will buy you a new suit for that."
+
+"Oh, no; I couldn't allow him to do that," objected Phil.
+
+"Well, you are a queer youngster.  So long.  I'll see you when
+you come in this afternoon.  Wait, let me see your tickets."
+
+The lad handed them over wonderingly, at which his questioner
+nodded approvingly.
+
+"They're good seats.  Hope you will enjoy the show."
+
+"Thank you; I am sure I shall," answered Phil, touching his hat
+and starting on a run for home.
+
+Arriving there, Mrs. Cahill met him and threw up her hands in
+horror when she observed the condition of his clothes.
+
+"I am afraid they are gone for good," grinned Phil rather
+ruefully.
+
+"No.  You leave them with me.  I'll fix them up for you.  I heard
+how you saved that show woman's life.  That was fine, my boy. I'm
+proud of you, that I am.  You did more than all those circus men
+could do, and the whole town is talking about it."
+
+"If you are going to the show you had better be getting ready,"
+urged Phil, wishing to change the subject.
+
+"All right, I will.  I'll fix your clothes when I get back. Will
+you be home to supper?"
+
+"I don't know for sure.  If I can I'll be back in time, but
+please don't wait for me.  Here is your ticket."
+
+The lad hurried to the room the good woman had set aside for him
+and quickly made the change of clothing.  He was obliged to
+change everything he had on, for even his shirt had been torn in
+his battle with the broncho.  After bathing and putting on the
+fresh clothes, Phil hurried from the house, that he might miss
+nothing of the show.
+
+The sideshow band was blaring brazenly when he reached the lot.
+The space in front of the main entrance was packed with people,
+many of whom pointed to him, nodding their heads and directing
+the attention of their companions to the lad.
+
+Phil wished he might be able to skulk in by the back door and
+thus avoid their attention, but as this was impossible, he pulled
+his hat down over his eyes and worked his way slowly toward the
+front of the crowd.
+
+Getting near the entrance, he saw Mr. Sparling's assistant. The
+latter, chancing to catch sight of Phil, motioned him to crawl
+under the ropes and come in.  The boy did so gratefully.
+
+"The doors are not open yet, but you may go in.  You will have
+time to look over the animals before the crowd arrives, then you
+can reach your seat before the others get in.  Please let me see
+those checks once more."
+
+The assistant made a mental note of the section and number of the
+seats for future reference and handed back the coupons.
+
+Phil stole into the menagerie tent, relieved to be away from the
+gaze and comments of the crowd that was massed in front.
+
+"Gracious, I'm afraid I wouldn't make a very good circus man. I
+hate to have everybody looking at me as if I were some natural or
+unnatural curiosity.  Wonder if I will know any of the show
+people when they are made up, as they call it, and performing in
+the ring?  I shouldn't wonder if they didn't know me in my best
+clothes, though," grinned the boy.
+
+Phil had had the forethought to bring a few lumps of sugar in his
+pocket.  Entering the menagerie tent, he quickly made his way to
+the place where the elephants were chained, giving each one of
+the big beasts a lump.  He felt no fear of them and permitted
+them to run their sensitive trunks over him and into his pockets,
+where they soon found the rest of the sugar.
+
+After disposing of the sweets, both beasts emitted a loud
+trumpeting. At such close quarters the noise they made seemed to
+shake the ground.
+
+"Why do they do that?" questioned Phil of the keeper.
+
+"That's their way of thanking you for the sugar.  You've made
+friends of both of them for life.  They'll never forget you, even
+if they don't see you for several seasons."
+
+"Do they like peanuts?"
+
+"Do they?  Just try them."
+
+Phil ran to a snack stand at the opposite side of the tent and
+bought five cents' worth of peanuts, then hurried back to the
+elephants with the package.
+
+"What are their names?"
+
+"The big one is Emperor and the smaller one is called Jupiter,"
+answered the keeper, who had already recognized his young
+visitor.
+
+"Are they ever ugly?"
+
+"Never have been.  But you can't tell.  An elephant is liable to
+go bad most any time, then you--"
+
+"But how can you tell, or can't you?"
+
+"Most always, unless they are naturally bad."
+
+"How do you know?"
+
+"See that little slit on the cheek up there?"
+
+"Yes," said Phil, peering at the great jowls wonderingly.
+
+"Well, several days before they get in a tantrum you will see a
+few tear drops--that's what I call them--oozing from that little
+slit. I don't know whether it's water on the brain or what it is.
+But when you see the tear drops you want to get from under and
+chain Mr. Elephant down as quickly as possible.
+
+"That is strange."
+
+"Very.  But it's a sure sign.  Never knew it to fail, and I've
+known some elephants in my time.  But Emperor and Jupiter never
+have shed a tear drop since I've known them.  They are not the
+crying kind, you know."
+
+The lad nodded understandingly.
+
+"How about the lions and the tigers--can you tell when they are
+going to have bad spells?"
+
+"Well," reflected the showman, "it's safe to say that they've
+always got a grouch on.  The cats are always--"
+
+"Cats?"
+
+"Yes.  All that sort of animals belong to the cat family and
+they've got only one ambition in life."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"To kill somebody or something."
+
+"But their keepers--don't they become fond of their keepers or
+trainers?"
+
+The elephant tender laughed without changing the expression of
+his face. His laugh was all inside of him, as Phil characterized
+it.
+
+"Not they!  They may be afraid of their keeper, but they would as
+soon chew him up as anybody else--I guess they would rather, for
+they've always got a bone to pick with him."
+
+"Do any of the men go in the cages and make the animals perform
+here?"
+
+"Oh, yes.  Wallace, the big lion over there, performs every
+afternoon and night.  So does the tiger in the cage next to him."
+
+Phil had dumped the bag of peanuts into his hat, which he held
+out before him while talking.  Two squirming trunks had been busy
+conveying the peanuts to the pink mouths of their owners, so that
+by the time Phil happened to remember what he had brought them,
+there was not a nut left in the hat.
+
+He glanced up in surprise.
+
+"Emperor, you are a greedy old elephant," laughed Phil, patting
+the trunk.
+
+Emperor trumpeted loudly, and the call was immediately taken up
+even more loudly by his companion.
+
+"No, you can't have any more," chided Phil.  "You will have
+indigestion from what you've already eaten, I'm afraid. Behave,
+and I'll bring you some more tonight if I come to the show," he
+laughed.
+
+Two caressing trunks touched his hands, then traveled gently over
+his cheeks.  They tickled, but Phil did not flinch.
+
+"You could do most anything with them now, you see," nodded the
+keeper.  "They'd follow you home if I would let them."
+
+"Especially if my pockets were full of sweets."
+
+"There's the animal trainer getting ready to go into the lion
+cage, if you want to see him," the attendant informed him.
+
+"Yes, I should like to.  And thank you very much for your
+kindness."
+
+"You're welcome.  Come around again."
+
+The boy hurried over to the lion cage.  The people were now
+crowding into the menagerie tent in throngs.  There seemed to
+Phil to be thousands already there.  But all eyes now being
+centered on Wallace's cage, they had no time to observe Phil, for
+which he was duly thankful.
+
+The animal trainer, clad in red tights, his breast covered with
+spangles, was already at the door of the cage, whip in hand. When
+a sufficient crowd had gathered about him, he opened the door,
+and, entering the cage threw wide the iron grating that shut
+Wallace off from the door end of the wagon.  The big lion bounded
+out with a roar that caused the people to crowd back
+instinctively.
+
+Then the trainer began putting the savage beast through its
+paces, causing it to leap over his whip, jump through paper
+hoops, together with innumerable other tricks that caused the
+spectators to open their mouths in wonder.  All the time Wallace
+kept up a continual snarling, interspersed now and then with a
+roar that might have been heard a quarter of a mile away.
+
+This was a part of the exhibition, as Phil shrewdly discovered.
+The boy was a natural showman, though unaware of the fact. He
+noted all the little fine points of the trainer's work with as
+much appreciation as if he had himself been an animal trainer.
+
+"I half believe I should like to try that myself," was his mental
+conclusion.  "But I should want to make the experiment on a very
+little lion at first.  If I got out with a whole skin I might
+want to tackle something bigger.  I wonder if he is going into
+the tiger cage?"
+
+As if in answer to his question, an announcer shouted out the
+information that the trainer would give an exhibition in the cage
+of the tiger just before the evening performance.
+
+"I'll have to see that," muttered Phil.  "Guess I had better get
+in and find my seat now."
+
+At the same time the crowd, understanding that the lion
+performance was over, began crowding into the circus tent.
+
+The band inside swung off into a sprightly tune and Phil could
+scarcely repress the inclination to keep time to it with his
+feet. Altogether, things were moving pretty well with Phil
+Forrest. They had done so ever since he left home the day before.
+In that one day he had had more fun than had come to him in many
+years.
+
+But his happy day would soon be ended.  He sighed as he thought
+of it. Then his face broke out into a sunny smile as he caught a
+glimpse of the ropes and apparatus, seen dimly through the
+afternoon haze, in the long circus tent.
+
+As he gained the entrance between the two large tents he saw the
+silk curtains at the far end of the circus arena fall apart,
+while a troop of gayly caparisoned horses and armored riders
+suddenly appeared through the opening.
+
+The grand entry was beginning.
+
+"Gracious, here the show has begun and I am not anywhere near my
+seat," he exclaimed.  "But, if I am going to be late I won't be
+alone.  There are a whole lot more of us that were too much
+interested in the animal trainer to think to come in and get our
+seats.  I guess I had better run.  I--"
+
+Phil started to run, but he got no further than the start.
+
+All at once his waist was encircled in a powerful grip and he
+felt his feet leaving the ground.  Phil was being raised straight
+up into the air by some strange force, the secret of which he did
+not understand.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+IN THE SAWDUST ARENA
+
+The lad repressed an inclination to cry out, for the thing that
+had encircled his waist and raised him up seemed to be tightening
+about him.
+
+A familiar voice just behind him served to calm Phil's disquieted
+nerves.
+
+"Don't be frightened, kid.  It's only Emperor having a little
+joke. He's a funny fellow," said the elephant's attendant.
+
+Phil had read somewhere that elephants possessed a keen sense of
+humor, and now he was sure of it.  But he never thought he would
+have an opportunity to have the theory demonstrated on himself.
+
+The elephants were on their way to participate in the grand
+entry, and there was not a minute to spare now.  Emperor on his
+way into the other tent had come across his new-found friend and
+recognized him instantly, while Phil had not even heard the
+approach of the elephants.
+
+No sooner had the elephant discovered the lad than he picked him
+up with his trunk, slowly hoisting the boy high in the air.
+
+"Steady, Emperor!  Steady!" cautioned the attendant.  But Emperor
+needed no admonition to deal gently with his young friend. He
+handled Phil with almost the gentleness of a mother lifting a
+babe.
+
+Phil Forrest experienced a thrill that ran all through him when
+he realized what was taking place.
+
+"We can't stop to put you down now, my boy.  You'll have to go
+through the performance with us.  Grab the head harness when he
+lets you down on his head.  You can sit on the head without
+danger, but keep hold of the harness with one hand.  I'll bet
+you'll make a hit."
+
+"I will if I fall off," answered Phil a bit unsteadily.
+
+As it was, the unusual motion made him a little giddy.
+
+"That's a good stunt.  Stick to him, Forrest," directed a voice
+as they swept on toward the ring.
+
+The voice belonged to Mr. Sparling, the owner of the show.  He
+was quick to grasp the value of Phil's predicament--that is, its
+value to the show as a drawing card.
+
+By now the people began to understand that something unusual was
+going on, and they asked each other what it was all about.
+
+"It's Phil Forrest riding the elephant," shouted one of the lad's
+school friends, recognizing him all at once.  "Hooray for Phil!"
+
+There were many of the pupils from his school there, and the
+howling and shouting that greeted him made the lad's cheeks burn.
+But now, instead of wanting to crawl under something and hide,
+Phil felt a thrill of pleasure, of pride in the achievement that
+was denied to all the rest of his friends.
+
+The inspiring music of the circus band, too, added to his
+exhilaration. He felt like throwing up his hands and shouting.
+
+Suddenly he felt something tugging at his coat pocket, and
+glancing down gave a start as he discovered the inquisitive trunk
+of Emperor thrust deep down in the pocket.
+
+When the trunk came away it brought with it a lump of sugar that
+Phil did not know he possessed.  The sugar was promptly conveyed
+to the elephant's mouth, the beast uttering a loud scream of
+satisfaction.
+
+"Emperor, you rascal!" laughed Phil, patting the beast on the
+head.
+
+Once more the trunk curled up in search of more sugar, but a
+stern command from the trainer caused the beast to lower it
+quickly. The time for play had passed.  The moment had arrived
+for Emperor to do his work and he was not the animal to shirk his
+act. In fact, he seemed to delight in it.  All elephants work
+better when they have with them some human being or animal on
+which they have centered their affections.  Sometimes it is a
+little black and tan dog, sometimes a full-grown man.  In this
+instance it happened to be a boy, and that boy Phil Forrest.
+
+"Waltz!" commanded the trainer.
+
+If Phil's head had swum before, it spun like a top now.  Round
+and round pirouetted the huge beasts, keeping in perfect step
+with the music of the band, and tighter and tighter did the lad
+grip the head harness of old Emperor.  Phil closed his eyes after
+a little because he had grown so dizzy that he feared he would
+fall off.
+
+"Hang on, kid.  It'll be Christmas by and by," comforted the
+trainer humorously.
+
+"That's what I am trying to do," answered Phil a bit unsteadily.
+
+"How's your head?"
+
+"Whirling like a merry-go-round."
+
+He heard the trainer chuckling.
+
+The spectators were shouting out Phil's name all over the big
+tent.
+
+"Fine, fine!" chuckled James Sparling, rubbing his palms
+together. "That ought to fill the tent tonight."
+
+The spectators realized, too, that they were being treated to
+something not down on the bills and their shouts and laughter
+grew louder and louder.
+
+"Do you think you could stand up on his head?" came the voice of
+the trainer just loud enough for Phil to hear.
+
+"Me?  Stand on the elephant's head?"
+
+"Yes.  Think you can do it?"
+
+"If I had a net underneath to catch me, maybe I'd try it."
+
+"Emperor won't let you fall.  When I give the word he'll wrap his
+trunk around your legs.  That will hold you steady from the waist
+down.  If you can keep the rest of yourself from lopping over
+you'll be all right.  It'll make a hit--see if it don't."
+
+"I--I'll try it."
+
+"Wait till I give the word, then get up on all fours, but don't
+straighten up till you feel the trunk about you.  We'll make a
+showman of you before you know it."
+
+"I seem to be the whole show as it is," grumbled Phil.
+
+"You are, just now--you and Emperor.  Good thing the other
+performers are not in the ring, or they would all be jealous of
+you."
+
+"I wish Uncle Abner could see me now.  Wouldn't he be mad!"
+grinned Phil, as the memory of his crabbed relative came back to
+him. "He'd come right out after me with his stick, he'd be so
+angry.  But I guess Emperor wouldn't let him touch me," decided
+the boy proudly, with an affectionate pat to which the elephant
+responded with a cough that sounded not unlike the explosion of a
+dynamite cartridge.
+
+"All ready now.  Don't be afraid.  Hold each position till I give
+you the word to change it."
+
+"Ready," announced the lad.
+
+"Emperor!  Jupiter!"
+
+The twitching of a ponderous ear of each animal told that they
+had heard and understood.
+
+"Rise!"
+
+Phil had scrambled to all fours.
+
+"Hold him, Emperor!"
+
+The great trunk curled up, ran over the boy's legs and twined
+about them.
+
+"Up you go, kid!"
+
+Phil raised himself fearlessly, straightened and stood full upon
+his feet.  That strong grip on his legs gave him confidence and
+told him he had nothing to fear.  All he would have to do would
+be to keep his ears open for the trainer's commands both to
+himself and the beast, and he would be all right.
+
+He felt himself going up again.
+
+The sensation was something akin to that which Phil had once
+experienced when jumping off a haystack.  He felt as if his whole
+body were being tickled by straws.
+
+The elephants were rising on their hind legs, uttering shrill
+screams and mighty coughs, as if enraged over the humiliation
+that was being put upon them.
+
+It seemed to Phil as if Emperor would never stop going up until
+the lad's head was against the top of the tent.  He ventured to
+look down.
+
+What a distance it was!  Phil hastily directed his glances
+upward.
+
+At last the elephant had risen as high as he could go.  He was
+standing almost straight up and down, and on his head the slender
+figure of the boy appeared almost unreal to those off on the
+seats.
+
+Thunders of applause swept over the assemblage.  People rose up
+in their seats, the younger ones hurling hats high in the air and
+uttering catcalls and shrill whistles, until pandemonium reigned
+under the "big top," as the circus tent proper is called by the
+showmen.
+
+"Swing your hat at them!"
+
+The trainer had to shout to make himself heard, and as it was
+Phil caught the words as from afar off.
+
+He took off his soft hat and waved it on high, gazing wonderingly
+off over the seats.  He could distinguish nothing save a waving,
+undulating mass of moving life and color.
+
+It was intoxicating.  And Phil Forrest went suddenly dizzy again.
+
+"I'm losing my head," rebuked the lad.  "If I don't pull myself
+together I shall surely fall off.  Then they will have something
+to laugh at rather than to applaud."
+
+He took himself firmly in hand.  But the applause did not abate
+one whit.
+
+"Watch out, we're going down," warned the trainer.
+
+"Right!"
+
+The elephant trainer's command came out like the crack of a
+ringmaster's whip.
+
+Slowly the great beasts lowered themselves toward the sawdust
+ring.
+
+"Stoop over and grab the harness!"
+
+Phil did so.
+
+"Sit!  Let go, Emperor!"
+
+The trunk was released instantly and Phil plumped to the beast's
+head once more, amid the wildest applause.
+
+The band swung into another tune, which was the signal for the
+next act to be brought on.  At the same time the ringmaster blew
+a shrill blast on his whistle.
+
+The trainer left the ring with his charges by an exit that he
+seldom departed through.  But he did so in order to leave Phil
+near the place where his seats were, first having ascertained
+where these were located.
+
+"Put him down, Emperor!  Down, I say!"
+
+Emperor reached up an unwilling trunk, grasped Phil about the
+waist and stood him on the ground.  At the trainer's command the
+beast released his hold of his friend and as the hook was gently
+pressed against his side to hurry him, Emperor started
+reluctantly away.
+
+Phil, with flushed face, a happy look in his eyes, had turned to
+run up the aisle to his seats, when, with a loud trumpeting,
+Emperor wheeled, and breaking away from his trainer, swept down
+toward the spot where he had left Phil Forrest.
+
+The movement almost threw those in that section into a panic.
+Women screamed, believing the animal had suddenly gone crazy,
+while men sprang to their feet.
+
+Phil had turned at the first alarm, and, observing what was
+taking place, with rare presence of mind trotted down to the
+arena again.
+
+He reached there about the same time that Emperor did.
+
+With a shrill scream Emperor threw his long trunk about the lad,
+and before Phil had time to catch his breath, he had been hurled
+to the elephant's back.
+
+Uttering loud trumpetings the great elephant started on a swift
+shamble for his quarters, giving not the slightest heed to his
+trainer's commands to halt.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+GETTING HIS FIRST CALL
+
+"Let him go.  Emperor won't hurt me," laughed Phil as soon as he
+could get his breath, for he was moving along at a pace which
+would have meant a tumble to the ground had the elephant not
+supported the lad with its trunk.
+
+The audience soon seeing that no harm had come to the boy, set up
+another roar, which was still loud in Phil's ears when Emperor
+set his burden down after reaching the elephant quarters in the
+menagerie tent.
+
+"You're a bad boy.  Get down, sir, and let me off," chided Phil.
+
+The elephant, to his surprise, cautiously let himself down to his
+knees, his trunk at the same time reaching out surreptitiously
+for a wisp of fresh grass.
+
+Phil slipped off, laughing heartily.  He had lost all fear of the
+great, hulking beast.
+
+"Don't punish him, please," begged the boy when the keeper came
+hurrying along with Jupiter.  "But if you will make him let me
+alone, I'll go in the other tent.  I want to see the circus."
+
+"Wait a moment.  I'll chain him up."
+
+The keeper soon had Emperor fast.  Then after a final
+affectionate petting Phil ran lightly to the other tent and
+quickly made his way to his seat.  The people were so engrossed
+in the acts in the ring that they did not observe the boy
+particularly this time.
+
+"Did I make a show of myself, Mrs. Cahill?" questioned the lad,
+with sparkling eyes.
+
+"You did not.  You were as handsome as a picture.  There isn't
+one of all those people that looks so handsome or so manly as--"
+
+"Please, please, Mrs. Cahill!" begged the lad, blushing
+violently. "Have you seen anything of my friend Teddy?  I had
+forgotten all about him."
+
+"That looks like him down there."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"There, leaning against that pole," she pointed.
+
+Phil gazed in the direction indicated, and there, sure enough,
+was Teddy Tucker leaning carelessly against the center pole.  He
+had no right to be there, as Phil well knew, and he watched with
+amused interest for the moment when the other boy's presence
+would be discovered.
+
+It came shortly afterwards.  All at once the ringmaster fixed a
+cold eye on Teddy.
+
+"Hey, you!"
+
+Teddy gave no heed to him.
+
+"Get out of there!  Think you own this show?"
+
+The lad made believe that he did not hear.
+
+The ringmaster's long whip lash curled through the air, going off
+with a crack that sounded as if a pistol had been fired, and
+within an inch of Teddy's nose.
+
+Teddy sprang back, slapping a hand to his face, believing that he
+had been hit.  Then there followed a series of disconcerting
+snaps all around his head as the long lash began to work, but so
+skillfully was it wielded that the end of it did not touch him.
+
+But Teddy had had enough.  He turned and ran for the seats.
+
+"Come up here," cried Phil, laughing immoderately.  "Here's a
+seat right beside us and there won't be any ringmaster to bother
+you."
+
+Considerably crestfallen, the lad climbed up to where Phil and
+Mrs. Cahill were sitting.
+
+"You mustn't go down there, you know, Teddy.  They don't allow
+outsiders in the ring while the performance is going on. Someone
+might get hurt--"
+
+"They let you in," bristled Teddy.
+
+"That was different.  They couldn't help themselves, and neither
+could I.  Emperor took me in whether I would or not; and, in
+fact, I didn't know I was going till I was halfway there."
+
+Phil's companion surveyed him with admiration.
+
+"My, but you did cut a figure up on that elephant's head!  I
+should have been afraid."
+
+"There was nothing to be afraid of.  But let's watch the
+performance. There's a trapeze act going on now."
+
+For a few moments the lads watched the graceful bodies of the
+performers slipping through the air.  One would swing out from
+his perch, flying straight into the arms of his fellow-performer
+who was hanging head down from another swinging bar.  On the
+return sweep the first performer would catch his own bar and
+return to his perch.
+
+"Looks easy.  I'll bet I could do that," nodded Teddy.
+
+Phil shook his head.
+
+"Not so easy as it looks."
+
+"How much do you suppose they get--think they must get as much as
+a dollar and a half a day for doing that?  I'd do it for a
+dollar, if I could," averred the irrepressible Teddy Tucker.
+
+"They get a good many more dollars than that, Teddy.  I've heard
+that some of them get all of twenty-five or thirty dollars a
+week."
+
+Phil's companion whistled.
+
+The next act was a bareback riding exhibition, by a pretty,
+graceful young woman whom the ringmaster introduced as
+Mademoiselle Mora.
+
+At the crack of the whip she sprang lightly to the back of the
+gray old ring horse and began a series of feats that made the
+boys sit forward in their seats.
+
+At the conclusion of the act Mademoiselle Mora ran out to the
+edge of the ring, and blowing a kiss at the blushing Phil,
+tripped away on fairy feet for the dressing tent.
+
+"Did you see her?  She bowed to me?" exclaimed Teddy
+enthusiastically.
+
+"Guess she didn't see you at all, young man," replied Mrs. Cahill
+dryly.  "There's others in the tent besides you, even if the
+ringmaster did crack his whip in your face and just miss your
+nose."
+
+A clown came out and sang a song about a boy who had rescued a
+beautiful young woman from a runaway horse and got kidnaped by an
+elephant.  The song made a hit, for most of the audience
+understood that it referred to Phil Forrest.
+
+And so the performance went on, with a glitter and a crash, a
+haze of yellow dust hanging like a golden cloud in the afternoon
+sun, over spectators and performers alike.
+
+"Hello, there's Rod!" exclaimed Teddy.
+
+"Who?"
+
+"Rod.  The red-haired kid we saw this morning, only his hair is
+black now.  He's covered up his own looks so he won't set the
+tent on fire."
+
+"Oh, you mean Rodney Palmer?  Yes, I guess that is he."
+
+"See, they're pulling him up on a rope.  I wonder where he is
+going?"
+
+"To those flying rings," explained Phil.  "And there is a young
+woman going up, too."
+
+One after another was pulled up, until a troupe of four had
+ascended and swung off to the rings that were suspended far up
+there in the haze.
+
+Both Phil and Teddy were more than ordinarily interested in this
+act, for they were no mean performers on the rings themselves. In
+the schoolyard an apparatus had been rigged with flying rings,
+and on this the boys had practiced untiringly during the spring
+months, until they had both become quite proficient.
+
+"Isn't he great?" breathed Teddy, as Rodney Palmer swung out into
+the air, letting his legs slip through the rings until only his
+toes were hanging to the slender support.
+
+"Yes; he certainly does do it fine."
+
+"We can do it just as well."
+
+"Perhaps, but not so gracefully."
+
+"See, he's swinging his hand at us."
+
+Sure enough, Rodney had picked out the two lads, and was smiling
+at them and waving a hand in their direction.  The two lads felt
+very proud of this, knowing as they did that they were the envy
+of every boy of their acquaintance within sight of them.
+
+The climax of the act was when the young woman seemed to plunge
+straight down toward the ground.
+
+The women in the audience uttered sharp little cries of alarm.
+But the performer was not falling.  Strong slender ropes had been
+fastened to her heels, the other ends being held by one of the
+performers who was hanging from the rings.
+
+As a result the falling girl's flight was checked just before she
+reached the ground and the spectators breathed a sigh of profound
+relief.
+
+"My, that was great!  I wouldn't want to do that."
+
+"No, you're too heavy, Teddy.  That's why they have a girl do it.
+She is slender and light--"
+
+"I'd be light headed."
+
+"Guess, I would, too," laughed Phil.
+
+At this juncture an attendant came running up the steps, halting
+before the lads.
+
+"Are you Phil Forrest?" he asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"The boss wants to see you."
+
+"Mr. Sparling?  All right.  I wanted to see the rest of the show,
+but I'll go."  Phil rose reluctantly and followed the guide.
+"I'll meet you by the ticket wagon if I don't get back here,
+Teddy," he said.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+PHIL GETS A SURPRISE
+
+"Where will I find Mr. Sparling?"
+
+"In the doghouse."
+
+"Where's that?"
+
+"Out back of the ticket wagon.  It's a little A tent, and we call
+it the boss's doghouse, because it's only big enough to hold a
+couple of St. Bernards."
+
+"Oh!  What does he want of me?"
+
+"Ask him," grinned the attendant, who, it developed, was an usher
+in the reserved-seat section.  "He don't tell us fellows his
+business. Say, that was a great stunt you did with Emperor."
+
+"Oh, I don't know."
+
+"I do.  There's the doghouse over there.  See it?"
+
+"Yes, thank you."
+
+The attendant leaving him, Phil walked on alone to Mr. Sparling's
+private office, for such was the use to which he put the little
+tent that the usher had called the "doghouse."
+
+"I wonder what he can want of me?" mused Phil.  "Probably he
+wants to thank me for stopping that pony.  I hope he doesn't.  I
+don't like to be thanked.  And it wasn't much of anything that I
+did anyway.  Maybe he's going to--but what's the use of
+guessing?"
+
+The lad stepped up to the tent, the flaps of which were closed.
+He stretched out his hand to knock, then grinned sheepishly.
+
+"I forgot you couldn't knock at a tent door.  I wonder how
+visitors announce themselves, anyway."
+
+His toe, at that moment, chanced to touch the tent pole and that
+gave him an idea.  Phil tapped against the pole with his foot.
+
+"Come in!" bellowed the voice of the owner of the show.
+
+Phil entered, hat in hand.  At the moment the owner was busily
+engaged with a pile of bills for merchandise recently purchased
+at the local stores, and he neither looked up nor spoke.
+
+Phil stood quietly waiting, noting amusedly the stern scowl that
+appeared to be part of Mr. Sparling's natural expression.
+
+"Well, what do you want?" he demanded, with disconcerting
+suddenness.
+
+"I--I was told that you had sent for me, that you wanted to see
+me," began the lad, with a show of diffidence.
+
+"So I did, so I did."
+
+The showman hitched his camp chair about so he could get a better
+look at his visitor.  He studied Phil from head to foot with his
+usual scowl.
+
+"Sit down!"
+
+"On the ground, sir?"
+
+"Ground?  No, of course not.  Where's that chair?  Oh, my lazy
+tent man didn't open it.  I'll fire him the first place we get to
+where he won't be likely to starve to death.  I hear you've been
+trying to put my show out of business."
+
+"I wasn't aware of it, sir," replied Phil, looking squarely at
+his questioner.  "Perhaps I was not wholly blameless in attaching
+myself to Emperor."
+
+"Huh!" grunted Mr. Sparling, but whether or not it was a grunt of
+disapproval, Phil could not determine.
+
+"So you're not living at home?"
+
+"I have no home now, sir."
+
+"Just so, just so.  Brought up in refined surroundings, parents
+dead, crabbed old uncle turned you out of doors for reasons best
+known to himself--"
+
+Phil was amazed.
+
+"You seem to know all about me, sir."
+
+"Of course.  It's my business to know something about everything.
+I ought to thank you for getting Mrs. Sparling out of that mix-up
+this morning, but I'll let her do that for herself.  She wants to
+see you after the performance."
+
+"I don't like to be thanked, Mr. Sparling, though I should like
+to know Mrs. Sparling," said Phil boldly.
+
+"Neither do I, neither do I.  Emperor has gone daffy over you.
+What did you feed him?"
+
+"Some sugar and peanuts.  That was all."
+
+"Huh!  You ought to be a showman."
+
+"I have always wanted to be, Mr. Sparling."
+
+"Oh, you have, eh?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Well, why don't you?"
+
+"I have never had the opportunity."
+
+"You mean you've never looked for an opportunity.  There are
+always opportunities for everything, but we have to go after
+them. You've been going after them today for the first time, and
+you've nailed one of them clear up to the splice of the center
+pole. Understand?"
+
+"Not entirely, sir."
+
+"Well, do you want to join out with the Great Sparling Combined
+Shows, or don't you?"
+
+"You mean--I join the--the--"
+
+Mr. Sparling was observing him narrowly.
+
+"I said, would you like to join our show?"
+
+"I should like it better than anything else in the world."
+
+"Sign this contract, then," snapped the showman, thrusting a
+paper toward Phil Forrest, at the same time dipping a pen in the
+ink bottle and handing it to him.
+
+"You will allow me to read it first, will you not?"
+
+"Good!  That's the way I like to hear a boy talk.  Shows he's got
+some sense besides what he's learned in books at some--well,
+never mind."
+
+"What--what is this, ten dollars a week?" gasped Phil, scarcely
+able to believe his eyes as he looked at the paper.
+
+"That's what the contract says, doesn't it?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Then, that's what it is.  Traveling expenses and feed included.
+You are an easy keeper?"
+
+"Well, I don't eat quite as much as a horse, if that's what you
+mean," laughed Phil.
+
+"Huh!"
+
+After reading the contract through, the lad affixed his signature
+to it with trembling hand.  It was almost too good to be true.
+
+"Thank you, sir," he said, laying the paper before Mr. Sparling.
+
+"And now, my lad," added the showman more mildly, "let me give
+you some advice.  Some folks look upon circus people as rough and
+intemperate.  That day's past.  When a man gets bad habits he's
+of no further use in the circus business.  He closes mighty
+quick.  Remember that."
+
+"Yes, sir.  You need not worry about my getting into any such
+trouble."
+
+"I don't, or I wouldn't take you.  And another thing: Don't get
+it into your head, as a good many show people do, that you know
+more about running the business than the boss does.  He might not
+agree with you.  It's a bad thing to disagree with the boss, eh?"
+
+"I understand, sir."
+
+"You'd better."
+
+"What do you want me to do?  I don't know what I can do to earn
+that salary, but I am willing to work at whatever you may put me
+to--"
+
+"That's the talk.  I was waiting for you to come to that.  But
+leave the matter to me.  You'll have a lot of things to do, after
+you get your bearings and I find out what you can do best.  As it
+is, you have earned your salary for the first season whether you
+do anything else or not.  You saved the big cat and you probably
+saved my wife's life, but we'll let that pass.  When can you join
+out?"
+
+"I'm ready now, sir.  I shall want to go home and get my things
+and my books."
+
+"Huh!  That's right.  Take your time.  We shan't be pulling out
+of here till after midnight, so you'd better go home and get
+ready. You'll want to bid good-bye to Mrs. Ca--Ca--Cahill."
+
+"I wonder if there is anything that he doesn't know about,"
+marveled Phil.
+
+"Anything you want to ask me about--any favor you'd like? If
+there is, get it out."
+
+"Well, yes, there is, but I scarcely feel like asking it, you
+have been so kind to me."
+
+"Shucks!"
+
+"I--I have a little friend, who--who, like myself, has no parents
+and is crazy over the circus.  He wants to be a circus man just
+as much as I do.  If you had a place--if you could find something
+for him to do, I should appreciate it very much."
+
+"Who is he, that youngster with the clown face, who crawled in
+under the tent this afternoon?"
+
+Phil laughed outright.
+
+"I presume so.  That's the way he usually gets in."
+
+"Where is he now?"
+
+"Seeing the performance, sir."
+
+"Nail him when he comes out.  We'll give him all the show he
+wants."
+
+With profuse thanks Phil Forrest backed from the tent and walked
+rapidly toward the entrance.  It seemed to him as if he were
+walking on air.
+
+"Let that boy through.  He's with the show now," bellowed Mr.
+Sparling, poking his head from the doghouse tent.
+
+The gateman nodded.
+
+"How soon will the performance be over?" inquired Phil,
+approaching the gateman.
+
+"Ten minutes now."
+
+"Then, I guess I won't go in.  I promised to meet Teddy over by
+the ticket wagon anyway."
+
+But Phil could not stand still.  Thrusting his hands in his
+pockets he began pacing back and forth, pondering deeply.  He did
+not observe the shrewd eyes of Mr. Sparling fixed upon him from
+behind the flap of the little tent.
+
+"At last, at last!" mused Phil.  "I'm a real live showman at
+last, but what kind of a showman I don't know.  Probably they'll
+make me help put up the tents and take them down.  But, I don't
+care. I'll do anything.  And think of the money I'll earn.  Ten
+dollars a week!" he exclaimed, pausing and glancing up at the
+fluttering flags waving from center and quarter poles.  "Why,
+it's a fortune! I shall be able to save most all of it, too.  Oh,
+I'm so happy!"
+
+"They're coming out," called the gateman to him.
+
+"Thank you."
+
+Phil's face was full of repressed excitement when Teddy came
+slouching up to him.
+
+"Bully show," announced the lad.  "Didn't know which way to look,
+there was so much to be seen."
+
+"How would you like to join the show and be a real circus man?"
+demanded Phil.
+
+"Great!"
+
+"Maybe I can fix it for you."
+
+"You?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Don't give me such a shock, Phil.  You said it almost as if you
+meant it."
+
+"And I did."
+
+Teddy gazed at his companion for a full minute.
+
+"Something's been going on, I guess--something that I don't seem
+to know anything about."
+
+"There has, Teddy.  I'm already a showman.  You come with me. Mr.
+Sparling wants to speak with you.  Don't be afraid of him. He
+talks as if he was mad all the time, but I'm sure he isn't."
+
+Grasping Teddy by the arm Phil rushed him into Mr. Sparling's
+tent, entering this time without knocking.
+
+"This is my friend whom I spoke to you about," announced Phil,
+thrusting Teddy up before the showman.
+
+Mr. Sparling eyed the lad suspiciously.
+
+"Want to join out, too, eh?"
+
+"I--I'd like to," stammered Teddy.
+
+"Do your parents approve of your going with a show?"
+
+"I--I don't know, sir."
+
+"You'd better find out, then.  Ask them mighty quick.  This is no
+camp meeting outfit that plays week stands."
+
+"Can't."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+" 'Cause they're dead."
+
+"Huh!  Why didn't you say so before?"
+
+"You didn't ask me."
+
+"You're too smart, young man."
+
+"Takes a smart man to be a circus man, doesn't it?"
+
+"I guess you're right at that," answered the showman, his stern
+features relaxing into a smile.  "You'll do.  But you'd better
+not hand out that line of sharp talk in bunches when you get with
+the show.  It might get you into trouble if you did."
+
+"Yes, sir; I'll be good."
+
+"Now, you boys had better run along and make your preparations.
+You may take your supper in the cook tent tonight if you wish.
+But you will have to be on hand promptly, as they take down the
+cook tent first of all."
+
+"Thank you; we will," answered Phil.
+
+"What act--what do I perform?" questioned Teddy, swelling with
+pride.
+
+"Perform?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Ho, ho, ho!"
+
+"I'm going to be a performer and wear pink pants, ain't I?"
+
+"A performer?  Oh, that's too good.  Yes, my son, you shall be a
+performer.  How would you like to be a juggler?"
+
+"Fine!"
+
+"Then, I think I'll let you juggle the big coffeepot in the cook
+tent for the edification of the hungry roustabouts," grinned Mr.
+Sparling.
+
+"What do I do?"
+
+"Do, young man--do?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Why, you stand by the coffee boiler in the cook tent, and when
+you hear a waiter bawl 'Draw one,' at the same time throwing a
+pitcher at you from halfway across the tent, you catch the
+pitcher and have it filled and ready for him by the time he gets
+to you."
+
+"Do I throw the pitcherful of coffee back at him?" questioned
+Teddy innocently.
+
+"You might, but you wouldn't be apt to try it a second time.
+You'd be likely to get a resounding slap from the flat of his
+hand--"
+
+"I'd hit him on the nose if he did," declared Teddy
+belligerently.
+
+Mr. Sparling could not resist laughing.
+
+"That's not the way to begin.  But you will learn.  Follow your
+friend Phil, here, and you will be all right if I am any judge of
+boys.  I ought to be, for I have boys of my own.  You'd better be
+going now."
+
+The two lads started off at a brisk pace.  Phil to tell Mrs.
+Cahill of his good fortune.  Teddy to bid good-bye to the people
+with whom he had been living as chore boy.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+THE FIRST NIGHT WITH THE SHOW
+
+"Teddy, you and I are a pair of lucky boys.  Do you know it?"
+asked Phil.
+
+Each, with his bag of belongings, was on his way to the circus
+lot, the boys having bid good-bye to their friends in the
+village.
+
+The people with whom Teddy lived had given a reluctant consent to
+his going with the circus, after he had explained that Phil
+Forrest had gotten him the place and that Phil himself was going
+to join the show.  The lad told them he was going to make a lot
+of money and that someday he would pay them for all they had done
+for him. And he kept his word faithfully.
+
+"Maybe.  I reckon Barnum & Bailey will be wanting us first thing
+we know," answered Teddy.
+
+"We shall be lucky if we hold on to the job we have already. Did
+Mr. Sparling say what he would pay you?"
+
+"No, he didn't think of that--at least I didn't.  Did he tell you
+how much you were going to get?"
+
+Phil nodded.
+
+"How much?"
+
+"I don't think I had better say," answered the lad doubtfully.
+"If you ask him and he tells you, of course that will be all
+right. I shall be glad to do so then.  It isn't that I don't want
+you to know, you understand, but it might be better business,
+just now, to say nothing about it," added Phil, with a wisdom far
+beyond his years.
+
+"Dark secret, eh?" jeered Teddy Tucker.
+
+"No; there's no secret about it.  It is just plain business,
+that's all."
+
+"Business!  Huh!  Who ever heard of a circus being business?"
+
+"You'll find business enough when you get in, Teddy Tucker."
+
+"Don't believe it.  It's just good fun and that's all."
+
+They had reached the circus lot by this time and were now making
+their way to Mr. Sparling's tent.
+
+"We have come to report, sir," announced Phil, entering the tent
+with Teddy close behind him.  "We are ready for work."
+
+There was a proud ring in Phil Forrest's voice as he made the
+announcement.
+
+"Very well, boys.  Hand your baggage over to the man at the
+baggage wagon.  If there is anything in either of your grips that
+you will want during the night you had better get it out, for you
+will be unable to get into the wagon after the show is on the
+road. That's one of the early wagons to move, too."
+
+"I guess there is nothing except our tooth brushes and combs that
+we shall need.  We have those in our pockets."
+
+"Better take a couple of towels along as well."
+
+"Yes, sir; thank you."
+
+"The cook tent is open.  Go over and have your suppers now. Wait
+a moment, I'll go with you.  They might not let you in. You see,
+they don't know you there yet."
+
+Mr. Sparling, after closing and locking his trunk, escorted the
+lads to the cook tent, where he introduced both to the manager of
+that department.
+
+"Give them seats at the performers' table for tonight," he
+directed. "They will be with the show from now on.  Mr. Forrest
+here will remain at that table, but the other, the Tucker boy, I
+shall probably turn over to you for a coffee boy."
+
+The manager nodded good naturedly, taking quick mental measure of
+the two lads.
+
+The boys were directed to their seats, which they took, almost as
+if in a dream.  It was a new and unfamiliar experience to them.
+The odor of the food, the sweet scents from the green grass
+underneath their feet, all so familiar to the showman, gave Phil
+and Teddy appetites that even a canvasman might have envied.
+
+The performers glanced at them curiously, some of the former
+nodding to Phil, having recognized in him the boy who had ridden
+the elephant into the arena in the grand entry.
+
+"Not so much after all, are they?" grunted Teddy.
+
+"They are all human beings like ourselves, I guess," replied
+Phil.
+
+Stripped of their gaudy costumes and paint, the performers looked
+just like other normal beings.  But instead of talking about the
+show and their work, they were discussing the news of the day,
+and it seemed to the two lads to be more like a large family at
+supper than a crowd of circus performers.
+
+Rodney Palmer nodded good naturedly to them from further up the
+long table, but they had no more than time to nod back when a
+waiter approached to take their orders.  Teddy ordered pretty
+much everything on the bill, while Phil was more modest in his
+demands.
+
+"Don't eat everything they have," he warned laughingly.
+
+"Plenty more where this came from.  That's one good thing about a
+show."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"If the food gives out they can eat the animals."
+
+"Better look out that the animals don't make a meal of you."
+
+"Joining out?" asked the man sitting next to Phil.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ring act?"
+
+"I don't know yet what I am to do.  Mr. Sparling is giving me a
+chance to find out what I am good for, if anything," smiled Phil.
+
+"Boss is all right," nodded the circus man.  "That was a good
+stunt you did this afternoon.  Why don't you work that up?"
+
+"I--I'll think about it."  Phil did not know exactly what was
+meant by the expression, but it set him to thinking, and out of
+the suggestion he was destined to "work up" something that was
+really worthwhile, and that was to give him his first real start
+in the circus world.
+
+"What's that funny-looking fellow over there doing?" interrupted
+Teddy.
+
+"That man down near the end of the table?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"That's Billy Thorpe, the Armless Wonder," the performer informed
+him.
+
+"And he hasn't any hands?" wondered the boy.
+
+"Naturally not, not having any arms.  He uses his feet for
+hands."
+
+"What's he doing now?"
+
+"Eating with his feet.  He can use them almost as handily as you
+can your hands.  You should see Billy sew, and write and do other
+things.  Why, they say he writes the best foot of anybody in the
+show."
+
+"Doesn't he ever get cold feet?" questioned Teddy humorously.
+
+"Circus people are not afflicted with that ailment.  Doesn't go
+well with their business."
+
+"May I ask what you do?" inquired Phil.
+
+"I am the catcher in the principal trapeze act.  You may have
+seen me today.  I think you were in the big top then."
+
+"Oh, yes, I saw you this afternoon."
+
+"How many people are with the show?" asked Teddy.
+
+"At a rough guess, I should say a hundred and fifty including
+canvasmen and other labor help.  It's a pretty big organization
+for a road show, the biggest in the country; but it's small, so
+small it would be lost if one of the big railroad shows was
+around."
+
+"Is that another armless or footless wonder next to Billy
+Thorpe?" asked Teddy.
+
+"It's a freak, yes, but with hands and feet.  That's the living
+skeleton, but if he keeps on eating the way he's been doing
+lately the boss will have to change the bills and bill him as the
+fattest man on earth."
+
+"Huh!" grunted Teddy.  "He could crawl through a rat hole in a
+barn door now.  He's thin enough to cut cheese with."
+
+Phil gave his companion a vigorous nudge under the table.
+
+"You'll get into trouble if you are so free in expressing your
+opinions," he whispered.  "Don't forget the advice Mr. Sparling
+gave you."
+
+"Apple or custard pie?" broke in the voice of the waiter.
+
+"Custard," answered Phil.
+
+"Both for mine," added Teddy.
+
+He got what he had ordered and without the least question, for
+the Sparling show believed that the best way to make its people
+contented was to feed them.
+
+Mr. Sparling and his assistants, Phil observed, occupied a table
+by themselves.  After he had finished the owner motioned to him
+to join them, and there Mrs. Sparling made a place for him by her
+side and thanked him briefly but warmly for his brave act.
+
+"I shall have to keep an eye on you two boys," she smiled. "Any
+time I can help you with advice or otherwise you come right to
+me.  Don't you be backward about doing so, will you?"
+
+Phil assured her that he would not.
+
+The two lads after some further conversation strolled from the
+cook tent.
+
+"I think I'll go in and see how the animals are getting along,"
+decided Phil, beginning to realize that he was free to go where
+he would and without fear of being ordered off.
+
+Already people were gathering in front of the entrance for the
+night performance.  The doors were advertised to open at seven
+o'clock, so that the spectators might have plenty of time in
+which to view the collection of "rare and wonderful beasts,
+gathered from the remote places of the earth," as the announcer
+proclaimed from the vantage point of a dry goods box.
+
+Phil bought a bag of peanuts and took them in to his friend
+Emperor, the beast uttering a shrill cry of joy when he saw Phil
+approaching.
+
+"I'll try to teach him my whistle," said the boy, puckering his
+lips and giving the signal that the boys of his school used in
+summoning each other.
+
+"Think he'll remember that, Mr. Kennedy?" he asked of the
+trainer.
+
+"Never forget it, will you, Emperor?"
+
+The elephant coughed.
+
+"Never forgets anything.  Knows more than any man in the show
+now, because he has lived longer."
+
+"How old is he?"
+
+"Close to a hundred."
+
+"You don't say?" marveled Teddy.  "Hope I'll be able to squeal as
+loud as that when I'm a hundred.  Has he got a hole through his
+trunk?"
+
+"Not that anybody knows of."
+
+"Come on; I want to see the fellow tame the tiger.  I missed that
+today, because he didn't do it at the afternoon show."
+
+They found Mr. Sparling standing in front of the cage.  He, too,
+was there to watch the performance.
+
+"This looks to me like ready money," he observed to Phil, nodding
+his head toward the people who were crowding into the tent.
+
+"Mr. Forrest, will you ride Emperor in again tonight?  I think
+that's one of the reasons they have come here," said the showman,
+shrewdly grasping the least thing that would tend to popularize
+his show.
+
+"Certainly, sir.  I shall enjoy it very much."
+
+They now turned their attention to the cage where the trainer had
+begun with the savage tiger.
+
+"Bengal is in an ugly temper about something tonight," announced
+Mr. Sparling in a low tone.  "Better be careful, Bob," he
+cautioned, after having stepped up close to the cage.
+
+"I'll take care of him," answered the trainer, without taking his
+eyes from the beast for the fraction of a second.
+
+Phil had heard the dialogue and now drew closer to the cage,
+stepping under the rope and joining Mr. Sparling.
+
+Teddy, of course, not to be left behind, crawled under the rope
+also.
+
+"Sit down in front," shouted someone.  "We can't see the animals
+play."
+
+In a moment the spectators saw a play that was not down on the
+bills.
+
+Bob was swinging the whip over Bengal's nose, the cruel lash
+cutting the tender snout with every blow.  But he was not doing
+it from sheer cruelty, as many of the spectators who raised their
+voices in loud protest imagined.
+
+Not understanding wild animals as the trainer did, they did not
+realize that this plucky fellow was fighting for his life, even
+though he used but a slender rawhide in his effort to do so.
+
+Bengal was crowding him.  The least mistake on the trainer's part
+now and the savage tiger would put a quick and terrible end to
+him.
+
+"Stand back, everybody!  Bring the prods!" bellowed Mr. Sparling.
+
+Phil understood that something was wrong, though he never would
+have guessed it from the calm expression on the trainer's face.
+
+Not a word did the performer speak, but his hand rained blows on
+the nose, while snarl after snarl was spit from between Bengal's
+gleaming teeth.
+
+The trainer was edging slowly toward the door.  He knew that
+nothing could be done with the beast in its present state of
+terrible temper.
+
+His only hope was that at a favorable moment, when the attendants
+came with their long, iron bars, he might be able to spring from
+the door at his back, which he was trying to reach.
+
+Phil's mind was working like an automatic machine.  He saw now
+what the trainer was attempting to do, and was seeking for some
+means of helping the man.  But what could a slender boy hope to
+do against the power of a great, savage brute like Bengal?
+
+Phil concluded there was nothing.
+
+A pistol flashed almost in the face of the two lads.  Mr.
+Sparling had started away on a run to fetch the attendants who
+either had not heard or failed to heed his call.
+
+"What did he do that f-f-for?" stammered Teddy.
+
+"To drive the tiger back.  It was a blank cartridge that he
+fired. I think the tiger is going to attack him.  Yes, there he
+goes! Oh, that's _terrible!_"
+
+The trainer had been forced against the bars at the back of the
+cage by the animal, whose length was more than the width of the
+cage itself.
+
+In an unsuspected moment the beast had sprung upon the
+unfortunate man, and with one sweep of his powerful paw had laid
+the man low.
+
+With a growl of savage joy, the brute settled back against the
+bars of the cage near which the lads were standing.
+
+Women shrieked and men grew pale as they stood helpless to do
+aught to avert the impending tragedy.
+
+Teddy slipped out from under the rope, his face ashen gray.  But
+Phil stood his ground.  He felt that he _must_ do something.
+
+Then his opportunity came.  The beast's great silken tail popped
+out through the bars against which he was backing.
+
+Phil Forrest, without an instant's thought of the danger into
+which he was placing himself, sprang forward.
+
+His hands closed over the tail, which he twisted about his right
+arm in a flash, at the same time throwing up his feet and bracing
+them against a wheel of the wagon.
+
+No sooner had he done so than Bengal, uttering a frightful roar,
+whirled.  The force of the jerk as the brute turned hurled Phil
+Forrest against the bars of the cage with a crash, and Bengal's
+sharp-clawed feet made a vicious sweep for the body of the lad
+pressed so tightly against the bars.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+A THRILLING RESCUE
+
+"Open the door and let the man out!" shouted Phil, with great
+presence of mind.  But no one seemed to have the power to move.
+
+One sweep of the powerful claw and one side of the lad's clothes
+was literally stripped from him, though he had managed to shrink
+back just far enough to save himself from the needle like claws
+of the tiger.
+
+At this moment men came rushing from other parts of the tent.
+Some bore iron rods, while two or three carried tent poles and
+sticks--anything that the circus men could lay their hands upon.
+
+Mr. Sparling was in the lead of the procession that dashed
+through the crowd, hurling the people right and left as they ran.
+
+With every spring of the tiger Phil was being thrown against the
+bars with terrific force, but still he clung to the tail that was
+wrapped about his arm, hanging on with desperate courage.
+
+Though the lad was getting severe punishment, he was
+accomplishing just what he had hoped for--to keep Bengal busy
+until help arrived to liberate the unconscious trainer, who lay
+huddled against the bars on the opposite side of the cage.
+
+"Poke one of the tent poles in to him and let him bite it!"
+roared Mr. Sparling.  "Half a dozen of you get around behind the
+cage and when we have his attention one of you pull Bob out.
+Keep your poles in the opening when you open the door, so Bengal
+doesn't jump out.  Everybody stand back!"
+
+The commands of the showman came out like so many explosions of a
+pistol.  But it had its effect.  His men sprang to their work
+like machines.
+
+In the meantime Mr. Sparling himself had grabbed the tail of the
+beast, taking a hold higher up than Phil's.
+
+"Pull the boy off.  He's hanging on like a bull dog.  If you had
+half his sense you'd have put a stop to this mix-up minutes ago."
+
+Teddy by this time had gotten in under the ropes again, and,
+grasping his companion about the waist, he held on until he had
+untwisted the tiger's tail from his companion's arm and released
+Phil, staggering back with his burden against the rope.
+
+Phil's limp body, the moment Teddy let go of him, collapsed in a
+heap.
+
+The circus men were too busy at the moment to notice him.  One of
+the men had thrust a short tent pole between the bars.  Bengal
+was upon it like an avalanche.
+
+Biting, clawing, uttering fierce growls, he tore the hard wood
+into shreds, the man at the other end poking at the beast with
+all his might.
+
+Cautiously the rear door of the cage was opened.  Two men grasped
+Bob by the shoulders and hauled him out with a quick pull.
+
+The crowd shouted in approval.
+
+"All out!  Let go!" shouted Mr. Sparling.
+
+It took the strength of two men to pull the tent pole from
+Bengal's grip.  The instant he lost the pole the beast whirled
+and pounced upon the spot where he had left his victim.
+
+Finding that he had lost his prey, the savage beast uttered roar
+upon roar, that made every spectator in the tent tremble and draw
+back, fearing the animal would break through the bars and attack
+them.
+
+"Where's that boy?"
+
+"Here he is, and I guess he's hurt," answered Teddy.
+
+"Give him to me.  I'll get him outside where we can get some
+decent air into him.  Is he much hurt?"
+
+"I--I don't know."
+
+The showman grabbed Phil, and as a helper lifted the bottom of
+the tent's side wall, Mr. Sparling ran to his own small tent with
+the unconscious Phil.
+
+"Fetch a pail of water."
+
+Teddy ran for the cook tent to get the water.  He was amazed to
+find no cook tent there.  Instead, there remained only the open
+plot of grass, trampled down, with a litter of papers and refuse
+scattered about.
+
+By the time he had dashed back to the tent to inquire where he
+could find a pail, one of the showmen had brought some water and
+Mr. Sparling was bathing Phil's face with it.
+
+He had made a hasty examination of the unconscious boy's wounds,
+which he did not believe were serious.
+
+Phil soon came to, and by that time the show's doctor had
+arrived, having been in attendance on the wounded animal trainer.
+
+"No; he'll be sore for a few days, but there's nothing dangerous
+about those scratches, I should say.  I'll dress the wounds and
+he can go on about his business," was the surgeon's verdict.
+
+"I've got to ride Emperor in tonight," objected Phil.
+
+"You'll do nothing of the sort.  You'll get into my wagon and go
+to bed.  That's what you will do, and right quick, at that."
+
+"But," urged the lad, "the people will all think I am seriously
+hurt if they see no more of me.  Don't you think it would be a
+good plan for me to show myself?  They are liable to be uneasy
+all through the performance.  If I show myself they will settle
+down and forget all about it in a few minutes."
+
+Mr. Sparling turned to his assistant with a significant nod.
+
+"I told you that boy was a natural born showman.  You can't stop
+that kind with a club.  Can you stand up alone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+Phil scrambled to his feet, steadying himself with a hand on the
+table.
+
+"I'll be all right after I walk about a bit.  How long before the
+elephants go in?"
+
+"You've got fifteen minutes yet."
+
+"Then I may go on?"
+
+"Yes, yes, go on.  You'll never be satisfied if you don't.  But I
+ought to take you over my knee and give you a sound walloping."
+
+"Thank you.  How is Mr.--Mr.--the trainer?"
+
+"He isn't badly hurt, thanks to your presence of mind, young
+man," answered the surgeon.
+
+"That makes two people you've saved today, Forrest," emphasized
+Mr. Sparling.  "We will call that a day's work.  You have earned
+your meal ticket.  Better run back to the dressing tent and ask
+them to fix up some clothes for you.  Ask for Mrs. Waite, the
+wardrobe woman.  Teddy Tucker, you run in and tell Mr. Kennedy,
+who has charge of the elephants, that Phil will ride tonight, and
+to wait until he gets in."
+
+Both boys hurried away on their respective missions.  All that
+Mrs. Waite had that would come anywhere near fitting Phil was a
+yellow robe that looked like a night gown.  Phil grinned as he
+tucked it under his arm and hurried back to the menagerie tent.
+As he passed through the "big top" he saw that it was filling up
+rapidly.
+
+"I guess we are going to have a good house tonight," muttered the
+lad with a pleased smile.  It did not occur to him that he
+himself was responsible for a large part of the attendance--that
+the part he had played in the exciting incidents of the day had
+done more to advertise the Great Sparling Combined Shows than any
+other one factor.
+
+"I am all ready, Mr. Kennedy," announced Phil, running to the
+elephant quarters.  The horns were blowing the signal for the
+grand entry, so the lad grasped the head harness, as Emperor
+stooped, and was quickly hoisted to the position in which he
+would enter the ring.
+
+When the people saw that it was indeed Phil they set up a great
+shout.  The lad was pale but resolute.  As he went through the
+performance, his wounds smarted frightfully.  At times the pain
+made him dizzy.
+
+But Phil smiled bravely, waving his hands to the cheering people.
+
+After the finish of the act Mr. Kennedy headed the elephants into
+the concourse, the open space between the rings and the seats,
+making a complete circuit of the tent, so that all might see Phil
+Forrest.
+
+"This is a kind of farewell appearance, you know," grinned
+Kennedy. And so the audience took it.
+
+The lad's former companions shouted all manner of things to him.
+
+"Good-bye, Phil!"
+
+"Don't stick your head in the lion's mouth."
+
+"Be careful when you twist the tiger's tail.  Better put some
+salt on it before you do."
+
+"We'll look out for Uncle Abner."
+
+Phil was grinning broadly as he rode back into the menagerie
+tent. Everybody in town now knew that he had joined the circus,
+which brought forth a variety of comments.  Some said it would be
+the end of the boy, but Phil Forrest knew that a boy could behave
+himself with a circus just as well as in any other occupation,
+and so far as his observations went, the circus people were much
+better than some folks he knew at home.
+
+No sooner had they gotten into the menagerie tent than a sudden
+bustle and excitement were apparent.  Confused shouts were heard
+on all sides.  Teams, fully harnessed, were being led into the
+tent, quarter-poles were coming down without regard to where they
+struck, everybody appearing to have gone suddenly crazy.
+
+"They're striking the tent," nodded Mr. Kennedy, noting the boy's
+wonderment.  "You had better look out for yourself. Don't stand
+in the way or you may get hurt," he warned.
+
+"Get the bulls out!" called a man, hurrying by.
+
+"They're getting," answered Kennedy.
+
+"What do they mean by that?"
+
+"In circus parlance, the 'bulls' are the elephants.  Where you
+going to ride tonight?"
+
+"I don't know.  Hello, there's my friend Teddy.  I guess I had
+better attach myself to him or he may get lost."
+
+As a matter of fact, Phil was not sure where he was himself,
+activities were following each other with such surprising
+rapidity.
+
+But the lads stuck to their ground until it was no longer safe to
+do so.  Phil was determined to see all there was to be seen, and
+what he saw he remembered.  He had no need to be told after that,
+providing he understood the meaning of a certain thing at first.
+
+Observing that one man was holding to the peak rope, and that it
+was rapidly getting the best of him, both lads sprang to his
+assistance.
+
+"That's right, boys.  That's the way to do it.  Always be ready
+to take advantage of every opening.  You'll learn faster that
+way, and you'll both be full-fledged showmen before you know it."
+
+"O Mr. Sparling," exclaimed Phil, after others had relieved them
+on the rope.
+
+"Yes?  What is it?"
+
+"I have been wanting to see you, to ask what you wish us to do
+tonight--where we are to travel?"
+
+"You may sleep in my wagon.  I'll take a horse for tonight."
+
+"I could not think of doing such a thing.  No, Mr. Sparling, if I
+am to be a circus man, I want to do just as the rest of them do.
+Where do the other performers sleep?"
+
+"Wherever they can find places.  Some few of the higher paid ones
+have berths in wagons.  Others sleep in the band wagon.  The
+rest, I guess, don't sleep at all, except after we get into a
+town. The menagerie outfit will be leaving town very soon now.
+You may go through with them if you wish."
+
+"If you do not object, I think I should prefer to remain until
+the rest of the show goes out."
+
+"Suit yourself."
+
+Mr. Sparling understood how the lads felt, and perhaps it would
+be better to let them break in at once, he reasoned.  They would
+become seasoned much sooner.
+
+The tent was taken down and packed away in the wagons in an
+almost incredibly short time.
+
+"Come on; let's go into the circus tent and see what's going on
+there," suggested Teddy.
+
+Phil agreed, and the lads strolled in.  They found the
+performance nearly over.  When it was finished quite a large
+number remained to see the "grand concert" that followed.
+
+While this was going on there was a crash and a clatter as the
+men ripped up and loaded the seats, piling them into waiting
+wagons that had been driven into the tent from the rear so as not
+to be in the way of the people going out.
+
+"It's more fun to watch the men work than it is to see the
+concert. That concert's a bum show," averred Teddy, thrusting his
+hands in his pockets and turning his back on the "grand concert."
+
+"I agree with you," laughed Phil.  "There's nothing but the
+freaks there, and we'll see them, after this, every time we go
+for our meals."
+
+"Have you been in the dressing tent yet?" asked Teddy.
+
+"No, I haven't had time.  We'll have to look in there tomorrow,
+though I don't think they care about having people visit them
+unless they belong there.  Just now we don't.  Do you start work
+in the cook tent tomorrow?"
+
+"Yes.  I am to be the champion coffee drawer.  I expect they will
+have my picture on the billboards after a little.  Wouldn't I
+look funny with a pitcher of hot, steaming coffee in my hand
+leaping over a table in the cook tent?" and Teddy laughed
+heartily at the thought.  "I'll bet I'd make a hit."
+
+"You mean you would get hit."
+
+"Well, maybe."
+
+The boys hung about until the big top had disappeared from the
+lot. The tent poles and boxes of properties were being loaded on
+the wagons, while out on the field, the ring horses, performing
+ponies and the like stood sleeping, waiting for the moment when
+they should be aroused for the start.
+
+"Come on, Teddy; let's you and I go make up our beds."
+
+"Where are they?"
+
+"We'll have to ask the porter," laughed Phil, who had traveled a
+little with his parents years before.
+
+"It's a shame that that old tiger has to have a cage all to
+himself. We could make up a fine bed if we had half of his cage
+and some blankets," complained Teddy.
+
+"Thank you.  I should prefer to walk.  I have had all the
+argument I want with that beast.  Let's go try the band wagon."
+
+"All right; that would be fine to sleep way up there."
+
+Laughing and chattering, the lads hunted about on the lot until
+they found the great glittering band wagon.  Being now covered
+with canvas to protect it from the weather, they had difficulty
+in making it out, but finally they discovered it, off near the
+road that ran by the grounds.  Four horses were hitched to it,
+while the driver lay asleep on the high seat.
+
+"Where will we get in?"
+
+"I don't know, Teddy; we will climb up and find out."
+
+Getting on the rear wheel they pulled themselves up, and finding
+the canvas covering loose, threw it open.  Teddy plumped in feet
+first.
+
+Immediately there followed such a howling, such a snarling and
+torrent of invective that, startled as he was, Phil lost his
+balance on the wheel and fell off.
+
+No sooner had he struck the ground than a dark figure came
+shooting from above, landing on him and nearly knocking all the
+breath out of his body.
+
+Phil threw off the burden, which upon investigation proved to be
+Teddy Tucker.
+
+"Wha--what happened?" stammered Phil.  "Sounds as if we had
+gotten into a wild animal cage."
+
+"I--I walked on somebody's face and he threw me out," answered
+Teddy ruefully.  Phil leaned against the wagon wheel and laughed
+until his throat ached.
+
+"Get out of here!  What do you mean?" bellowed an angry voice
+over their heads.  "Think my face is a tight rope to be walked on
+by every Rube that comes along?"
+
+"Come--come on away, Teddy.  We made a mistake.  We got into the
+wrong berth."
+
+"Here's another wagon, Phil.  They're just hitching the horses.
+Let's try this."
+
+"All right, it's a canvas wagon.  Go ahead, we'll try it."
+
+"I've tried one wagon.  It's your turn now," growled Teddy.
+
+"I guess you're right.  If I get thrown out you catch me the same
+as I did you," laughed Phil.
+
+"Yes, you _caught_ me, didn't you?"
+
+Phil climbed up, but with more caution than Teddy had exercised
+in the case of the band wagon.
+
+"Anybody living in this bedroom tonight?" questioned Phil of the
+driver.
+
+"Guess you are.  First come first served.  Pile in.  You're the
+kid that rode the bull, ain't you?"
+
+"And twisted the tiger's tail," added Teddy.
+
+"All right.  Probably some others will be along later, but I'll
+see to it that they don't throw you out."
+
+"Thank you.  Come on up, Teddy; it's all right."
+
+Teddy Tucker hastily scrambled up into the wagon which proved to
+be a canvas wagon--an open wagon, over which a canvas cover was
+stretched in case of storm only.
+
+"Where's the bed clothes?" demanded Teddy.
+
+"I guess the skies will have to be our quilts tonight," answered
+Phil.
+
+The boys succeeded in crawling down between the folds of the
+canvas, however, and, snuggling close together, settled down for
+their first night on the road with a circus.  Soon the wagons
+began to move in response to a chorus of hoarse shouts. The
+motion of the canvas wagon very soon lulled the lads to sleep, as
+the big wagon show slowly started away and disappeared in the
+soft summer night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY
+
+"Hi!  Stop the train!  Stop the train!" howled Teddy, as he
+landed flat on his back on the hard ground.
+
+"Here, here!  What are you fellows doing?" shouted Phil,
+scrambling to his feet.
+
+"I dreamed I was in a train of cars and they ran off the track,"
+said Teddy, struggling to his feet and rubbing his shins
+gingerly. "Did you do that?"
+
+"You bet.  Think I can wait for you kids to take your beauty
+sleep? Don't you suppose this show's got something else to do
+besides furnish sleeping accommodations for lazy kids?  Take hold
+here, and help us get this canvas out if you want any breakfast."
+
+"Take it out yourself," growled Teddy, dodging the flat of the
+canvasman's hand.
+
+The lads had been hurled from their sleeping place by a rough
+tentman in a hurry to get at his work.  The chill of the early
+dawn was in the air.  The boys stood, with shoulders hunched
+forward, shivering, their teeth chattering, not knowing where
+they were and caring still less.  They knew only that they were
+most uncomfortable.  The glamor was gone.  They were face to face
+with the hardships of the calling they had chosen, though they
+did not know that it was only a beginning of those hardships.
+
+"B-r-r-r!" shivered Teddy.
+
+"T-h-h-h-at's what I say," chattered Phil.
+
+"Say, are you kids going to get busy, or do you want me to help
+you to?"
+
+Phil did not object to work, but he did not like the way the
+canvasman spoke to them.
+
+"I guess you'll have to do your own work.  Come on, Teddy; let's
+take a run and warm ourselves up."
+
+Hand in hand the lads started off across the field.  The field
+was so dark that they could scarcely distinguish objects about
+them. Here and there they dodged wagons and teams that stood like
+silent sentinels in the uncertain light.
+
+"Turn a little, Teddy.  We'll be lost before we know it, if we
+don't watch out--"
+
+"Ouch!  We're lost already!"
+
+The ground seemed suddenly to give way beneath them.  Both lads
+were precipitated into a stream of water that stretched across
+one end of the circus lot.
+
+Shouting and struggling about they finally floundered to the
+bank, drenched from head to foot.  If they had been shivering
+before, they were suffering from violent attacks of ague now.
+
+"Whew!  I'm freezing to death!" cried Phil.
+
+"I feel like the North Pole on Christmas morning," added Teddy.
+"I wish I was home, so I could thaw out behind the kitchen
+stove."
+
+"Brace up, Teddy.  This is only the beginning of the fun.  We
+shall have worse experiences than this, late in the fall, when
+the weather gets cool; that is, if they do not get enough of us
+in the meantime and send us away."
+
+"I--I wish they would send us home now."
+
+"Come now; we've got to run again.  We shall surely take our
+death of cold, if we stand here much longer."
+
+"Run?  No, thank you.  I've had one run."
+
+"And you don't want another?  Is that it?"
+
+"Not I."
+
+"Don't know as I blame you.  Well, if you don't want to run, just
+stand in one place and jump up and down.  Whip your hands, and
+you'll see how soon it will start your blood to circulating,"
+advised Phil, who immediately proceeded to put his own theory
+into execution.  "That feel better?"
+
+"Yes, some," replied Teddy, rather doubtfully.  "But I could be
+warmer. I wonder what time the cook tent will be up."
+
+"That's an idea.  Suppose we go over and find out?"
+
+"Yes, but where is it?"
+
+"I don't know.  But we won't find it if we stand here."
+
+They started off again, this time exercising more caution as to
+where their feet touched.  They had not gone far before they came
+upon some men who were driving small stakes in the ground,
+marking out the spot where one of the tents was to be pitched.
+
+"Can you tell us where the cook tent is going up?" asked Phil
+politely.
+
+"North side of the field," grunted the man, not very
+good-naturedly.
+
+"Which way is north?"
+
+"Get a compass, get a compass," was the discourteous answer.
+
+"He's a grouch.  Come along," urged Teddy Tucker.
+
+A few moments later, attracted by a light that looked like a
+fire, the lads hurried toward it.
+
+"Where will we find the cook tent?" questioned Phil again.
+
+"Right here," was the surprising answer.
+
+"What time will it be ready?"
+
+"About seven o'clock.  What's the matter, hungry?"
+
+"More cold than hungry," replied Phil, his teeth chattering.
+
+"Got to get used to that.  Come here.  I've got something that
+will doctor you up in no time," announced the man in a cheerful
+voice, so different from the answers the lads had received to
+their questions that morning, that they were suddenly imbued with
+new courage.
+
+"What is it?" asked Phil.
+
+"Coffee, my lad.  We always make coffee the first thing when we
+get in, these chilly mornings.  The men work much better after
+getting something warm inside them.  Got a cup?"
+
+They had not.
+
+"Wait, I'll get you one," said the accommodating showman.
+
+Never had anything tasted so good as did the coffee that morning.
+It was excellent coffee, too, and the boys drank two cups apiece.
+
+"We mustn't drink any more," warned Phil.
+
+"Why not?" wondered Teddy.
+
+"Because we shall be so nervous that we shall not be able to work
+today.  And, by the way, were I in your place, I should get busy
+here and help in the cook tent until you are told to do something
+else.  I think it will make a good impression on Mr. Sparling."
+
+Teddy consented rather grudgingly.
+
+"I'll turn in and do something at the same time.  What can we do
+to help you, sir?  That coffee was very good."
+
+"Might get busy and unpack some dishes from those barrels. Be
+careful that you don't break any of them."
+
+"All right.  Where shall we put them?"
+
+"Pile them on the ground, all the dishes of the same size
+together. Be sure to set a lantern by them so nobody falls over
+them in the dark."
+
+The boys, glad of some task to perform, began their work with a
+will.  With something to do it was surprising how quickly they
+forgot their misfortunes.  In a short time they were laughing and
+joking with the good-natured cooktent man and making the dishes
+fairly fly out of the barrels.
+
+"Guess I'll have to keep you two boys with my outfit," grinned
+the showman.
+
+"I think Mr. Sparling said my friend, Teddy here, was to work in
+the cook tent for the present."
+
+"All right, Mr. Teddy.  There's one thing about working in the
+cook tent that ought to please you."
+
+"What's that?"
+
+"You can piece between meals all you want to.  If you are like
+most boys, you ought to have a good healthy appetite all the
+time, except when you are sleeping."
+
+"That's right.  I could eat an elephant steak now--right this
+minute.  How long before breakfast?"
+
+"Seven o'clock, I told you."
+
+"What time does Mr. Sparling get up?" inquired Phil.
+
+"Up?  Ask me what time he goes to bed.  I can answer one question
+as well as the other.  Nobody knows.  He's always around when you
+least expect him.  There he is now."
+
+The owner was striding toward the cook tent for his morning cup
+of coffee.
+
+"Good morning, sir," greeted the boys, pausing in their work long
+enough to touch their hats, after which they continued unpacking
+the dishes.
+
+"Morning, boys.  I see you are up early and getting right at it.
+That's right.  No showman was ever made out of a sleepy-head.
+Where did you sleep last night?"
+
+"In a wagon on a pile of canvas," answered Phil.
+
+"And they threw us out of bed this morning," Teddy informed him,
+with a grimace.
+
+Mr. Sparling laughed heartily.
+
+"And we fell in a creek," added Teddy.
+
+"Well, well, you certainly are having your share of experiences."
+
+"Will you allow me to make a suggestion, Mr. Sparling?" asked
+Phil.
+
+"Of course.  You need not ask that question.  What is it?"
+
+"I think I ought to have some sort of a costume if I am to
+continue to ride Emperor in the grand entry."
+
+"H-m-m-m.  What kind do you think you want?"
+
+"Could I wear tights?"
+
+Mr. Sparling was about to laugh, but one glance into the earnest
+eyes of Phil Forrest told him that the boy's interest was wholly
+in wishing to improve the act--not for the sake of showing
+himself, alone.
+
+"Yes, I think perhaps it might not be a bad idea.  You go tell
+Mrs. Waite to fix you up with a suit.  But I would prefer to have
+you wear your own clothes today."
+
+"Yes, sir.  Thank you, sir."
+
+"I'll tell you why.  I telegraphed on to my advance man all about
+you last night, and what you did yesterday will be spread all
+over town here today.  It will be a rattling good advertisement.
+You and the tiger are my best drawing cards today," smiled Mr.
+Sparling.
+
+"Glad I have proved of some use to you, sir."
+
+"Use?  Use?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Don't be a fool!" exploded the showman, almost brutally.
+
+Phil's countenance fell.
+
+"Don't you understand, yet, that you already have been worth
+several thousand dollars to me?"
+
+"I--I--"
+
+"Well, don't get a swelled head about it, for--"
+
+"There is no danger of that, sir."
+
+"And you don't have to potter around the cook tent working,
+either. That is, not unless you want to."
+
+"But, I do, Mr. Sparling.  I want to learn everything there is to
+be learned about the show business," protested Phil.
+
+Mr. Sparling regarded him quizzically.
+
+"You'll do," he said, turning away.
+
+As soon as the dressing tent had been erected and the baggage was
+moved in, Phil hurried to the entrance of the women's dressing
+tent and calling for Mrs. Waite, told her what was wanted.
+
+She measured his figure with her eyes, and nodded
+understandingly.
+
+"Think I've got something that will fit you.  A young fellow who
+worked on the trapeze fell off and broke a leg.  He was just
+about your size, and I guess his tights will be about right for
+you. Not superstitious, are you?"
+
+Phil assured her he was not.
+
+"You will be, after you have been in the show business a while.
+Wait, I'll get them."
+
+Phil's eyes glowed as he saw her returning with a suit of bright
+red tights, trunk and shirt to match.
+
+"Oh, thank you ever so much."
+
+"You're welcome.  Have you a trunk to keep your stuff in?"
+
+"No; I have only a bag."
+
+"I've got a trunk in here that's not in use.  If you want to drag
+it over to the men's dressing tent you're welcome to it."
+
+Phil soon had the trunk, which he hauled across the open paddock
+to the place where the men were settling their belongings. He
+espied Mr. Miaco, the head clown.
+
+"Does it make any difference where I place my trunk, Mr. Miaco?"
+
+"It does, my lad.  The performers' trunks occupy exactly the same
+position every day during the show year.  I'll pick out a place
+for you, and every morning when you come in you will find your
+baggage there.  Let me see.  I guess we'll place you up at the
+end, next to the side wall of the dressing room.  You will be
+more by yourself there.  You'll like that, won't you?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Going in in costume, today?"
+
+"No, sir.  Mr. Sparling thought I had better wear my own clothes
+today, for advertising purposes."
+
+Miaco nodded understandingly.
+
+"Then you'll want to fix up again.  Been in the gutter?"
+
+"I fell into a ditch in the darkness this morning," grinned Phil.
+
+"You'll get used to that.  Mr. Ducro, the ringmaster, carries a
+lantern with him so he won't fall in, but none of the rest of us
+do. We call him Old Diogenes because he always has a lantern in
+his hand. If you'll take off that suit I'll put it in shape for
+you."
+
+"Undress--here?"
+
+"Sure.  You'll have to get used to that."
+
+Phil retired to the further end of the tent where his trunk had
+been placed in the meantime, and there took off his clothes,
+handing them to the head clown.  Mr. Miaco tossed the lad a bath
+robe, for the morning was still chilly.
+
+"After you get broken in you will have to do all this for
+yourself. There's nothing like the show business to teach a
+fellow to depend upon himself.  He soon becomes a
+jack-of-all-trades.  As soon as you can you'll want to get
+yourself a rubber coat and a pair of rubber boots.  We'll get
+some beastly weather by-and-by."
+
+The good-natured clown ran on with much good advice while he was
+sponging and pressing Phil's clothes.  When he had finished, the
+suit looked as if it had just come from a tailor shop.
+
+Phil thanked him warmly.
+
+"Now, you and I will see about some breakfast."
+
+Reaching the cook tent, the first person Phil set eyes on was his
+chum, Teddy Tucker.  Teddy was presiding over the big nickel
+coffeepot, his face flushed with importance.  He was bossing the
+grinning waiters, none of whom found it in his heart to get
+impatient with the new boy.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+AN UNEXPECTED HIT
+
+"Another turn-away," decided a ticket taker, casting his eyes
+over the crowds that had gathered for the afternoon performance.
+
+"I guess Mr. Sparling knows his business pretty well," mused
+Phil. "He knows how to catch the crowd.  I wonder how many of
+them have come here to see me.  How they would look and stare if
+they knew I was the kid that twisted the tiger's tail."
+
+Phil's color rose.
+
+It was something for a boy who had been a circus performer for
+less than two days to have his name heralded ahead of the show as
+one of the leading attractions.
+
+But Phil Forrest had a level head.  He did not delude himself
+with any extravagant idea of his own importance.  He knew that
+what he had done was purely the result of accident.
+
+"I'll do something, someday, that will be worthwhile," he told
+himself.
+
+Phil's act that afternoon was fully as successful as it had been
+on the previous day back in his home town.  Besides, he now had
+more confidence in himself.  He felt that in a very short time he
+might be able to keep his feet on the elephant's head without the
+support of Emperor's trunk.  That would be an achievement.
+
+On this particular afternoon he rode with as much confidence as
+if he had been doing it all the season.
+
+"You'll make a performer," encouraged Kennedy.  "You've got the
+poise and everything necessary to make you a good one."
+
+"What kind, do you think?"
+
+"Any old kind.  Do you get dizzy when up in the air?"
+
+"I don't remember that I have ever been up much further than
+Emperor hoists me," laughed Phil.
+
+For the next two minutes the man and the boy were too busy with
+their act to continue their conversation.  The audience was
+enthusiastic, and they shouted out Phil Forrest's name several
+times, which made him smile happily.
+
+"What would you advise me to do, Mr. Kennedy?" he asked as the
+elephants started to leave the ring, amid the plaudits of the
+spectators.
+
+"Ever try the rings?"
+
+"Yes, but not so high up as those that Rod and his partners
+perform on."
+
+"Height doesn't make much difference.  Get them to let the rings
+down so you can reach them, then each day raise them a little
+higher, if you find you can work on them."
+
+"Thank you.  Perhaps I'll try it this afternoon.  I am anxious to
+be a real performer.  Anybody could do this.  Though it's easy, I
+think I might work up this act of ours to make it rather funny."
+
+It will be observed that Phil was rapidly falling into the
+vernacular of the showman.
+
+"If you've got any ideas we'll thresh them out.  Emperor will be
+willing.  He'll say yes to anything you suggest.  What is it?"
+
+"Don't you think Mr. Sparling would object?"
+
+"Not he.  Wait till I get the bulls chained; then we'll talk."
+
+After attending to his charges, Mr. Kennedy and Phil stepped
+behind the elephants and sat down on a pile of straw against the
+side walls of the menagerie tent.
+
+Phil confided at length what he had in mind, Kennedy nodding from
+time to time as Phil made points that met with the trainer's
+approval.
+
+"Boy, you've got a head on you a yard wide.  You'll make your
+everlasting fortune.  Why, I'd never even thought of that
+before."
+
+"Don't you think I had better speak to Mr. Sparling?"
+
+Kennedy reflected for a moment.
+
+"Perhaps you had better do so.  But you needn't tell him what it
+is. We'll give them a surprise.  Let's go see the property man
+and the carpenter.  We'll find out what they can do for us."
+
+Slipping out under the canvas, the two hurried back to the
+property room, an enclosure where all the costumes were kept,
+together with the armor used in the grand entry, and the other
+trappings employed in the show, known as properties.
+
+Mr. Kennedy explained to the property man what was wanted. The
+latter called in the carpenter.  After consulting for a few
+minutes, they decided that they could give the elephant trainer
+and his assistant what they sought.
+
+"When will you have it ready?"
+
+"Maybe in time for tonight's performance, but I can't promise for
+sure."
+
+"Thank you," exclaimed Phil, hurrying away to consult with Mr.
+Sparling.
+
+"I have been thinking out a plan to work up my part of the
+elephant act," announced Phil, much to the owner's surprise.
+
+"You have, eh?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"What is it?"
+
+"I was in hopes you wouldn't ask me that.  I wanted to surprise
+you."
+
+Mr. Sparling shook his head doubtfully.
+
+"I'm afraid you haven't had experience enough to warrant my
+trusting so important a matter to you," answered the showman,
+knowing how serious a bungled act might be, and how it would be
+likely to weaken the whole show.
+
+Phil's face showed his disappointment.
+
+"Mr. Kennedy says it will be a fine act.  I have seen the
+property man and the carpenter, and they both think it's great.
+They are getting my properties ready now."
+
+"So, so?" wondered the owner, raising his eyebrows ever so
+little. "You seem to be making progress, young man.  Let's see,
+how long have you been in the show business?" he reflected.
+
+"Twenty-four hours," answered Phil promptly.
+
+Mr. Sparling grinned.
+
+"M-m-m-m.  You're certainly getting on fast.  Who told you you
+might give orders to my property man and my carpenter, sir?" the
+proprietor demanded, somewhat sternly.
+
+"I took that upon myself, sir.  I'm sure it would improve the
+act, even though I have not had as much experience as I might
+have. Will you let me try it?" demanded the boy boldly.
+
+"I'll think about it.  Yes, I'll think about it.  H-m-m-m!
+H-m-m-m!"
+
+Thus encouraged, Phil left his employer, going in to watch some
+of the other acts.
+
+About that time Mr. Sparling found it convenient to make a trip
+back to the property man's room, where he had quite a long talk
+with that functionary.  The proprietor came away smiling and
+nodding.
+
+About an hour later Phil sauntered out and passed in front of Mr.
+Sparling's tent, hoping the showman would see him and call him
+in.
+
+Phil was not disappointed.  Mr. Sparling did that very thing.
+
+"How's that new act of yours coming along, young man?" he
+demanded.
+
+"I have done no more than think it over since talking with you a
+little while ago.  If the props are ready Mr. Kennedy and I will
+have a quiet rehearsal this afternoon.  That is, if we can shoo
+everybody out of the tent and you are willing we should try it.
+How about it, sir?"
+
+"I must say you are a most persistent young man."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"And what if this act falls down flat?  What then?"
+
+"It mustn't."
+
+"But if it does?"
+
+"Then, sir, I'll give up the show business and go back to
+Edmeston, where I'll hire out to work on a farm.  If I can't do a
+little thing like this I guess the farm will be the best place
+for me."
+
+Phil was solemn and he meant every word he said.  Mr. Sparling,
+however, unable to maintain his serious expression, laughed
+heartily.
+
+"My boy, you are all right.  Go ahead and work up your act.  You
+have my full permission to do that in your own way, acting, of
+course, under the approval of Mr. Kennedy.  He knows what would
+go with his bulls."
+
+"Thank you, thank you very much," exclaimed Phil, impulsively. "I
+hope you will be pleasantly surprised."
+
+"I expect to be."
+
+Phil ran as fast as his legs would carry him to convey the good
+news to Mr. Kennedy.  Active preparations followed, together with
+several hurried trips to the property room.  The property man was
+getting along famously with his part of the plan, and both Phil
+and Mr. Kennedy approved of what had been done thus far.
+
+According to programme, after the afternoon show had been
+finished and all the performers had gone to the cook tent the
+rehearsal took place in the menagerie tent.  Faithful to his
+promise, Mr. Sparling kept away, but a pair of eyes representing
+him was peering through a pin-hole in the canvas stretched across
+the main opening where the ticket takers stood when at work.
+
+"That's great, kid!  Great, you bet!" shouted Mr. Kennedy after a
+successful trial of their new apparatus.
+
+With light heart, an expansive grin overspreading his
+countenance, the lad ran to the cook tent for his supper.  He
+came near missing it as it was, for the cook was about to close
+the tent. Mr. Sparling, who was standing near the exit, nodded to
+the chief steward to give Phil and Mr. Kennedy their suppers.
+
+"Well, did the rehearsal fall down?" he asked, with a quizzical
+smile on his face.
+
+"It fell down, but not in the way you think," laughed Phil
+happily.
+
+No further questions were asked of him.
+
+That night, when the grand entry opened the show to a packed
+house, a shout of laughter from the great assemblage greeted the
+entrance of old Emperor.  Emperor was clad in a calico gown of
+ancient style, with a market basket tucked in the curl of his
+trunk.  But the most humorous part of the long-suffering
+elephant's makeup was his head gear.
+
+There, perched jauntily to one side was the most wonderful bonnet
+that any of the vast audience ever had gazed upon.  It was tied
+with bright red ribbons under Emperor's chops with a collection
+of vari-colored, bobbing roses protruding from its top.
+Altogether it was a very wonderful piece of head gear.
+
+The further the act proceeded the more the humor of Emperor's
+makeup appeared to impress the audience.  They laughed and
+laughed until the tears ran down their cheeks, while the elephant
+himself, appearing to share in the humor of the hour, never
+before had indulged in so many funny antics.
+
+Mr. Kennedy, familiar with side-splitting exhibitions, forgot
+himself so far as actually to laugh out loud.
+
+But where was Phil Forrest?  Thus far everybody had been too much
+interested in the old lady with the trunk and the market basket
+to give a thought to the missing boy, though some of the
+performers found themselves wondering if he had closed with the
+show already.
+
+Those of the performers not otherwise engaged at the moment were
+assembled inside the big top at one side of the bandstand, fairly
+holding their sides with laughter over old Emperor's exhibition.
+
+Standing back in the shadow of the seats, where the rays from the
+gasoline lamps did not reach, stood Mr. Sparling, a pleased smile
+on his face, his eyes twinkling with merriment.  It was a good
+act that could draw from James Sparling these signs of approval.
+
+The act was nearing its close.
+
+The audience thought they had seen the best of it.  But there was
+still a surprise to come--a surprise that they did not even dream
+of.
+
+The time was at hand for the elephants to rear in a grand finale.
+An attendant quietly led Jupiter from the ring and to his
+quarters, Emperor making a circuit of the sawdust arena to cover
+the going of the other elephant and that there might be no
+cessation of action in the exhibition.
+
+Emperor and his trainer finally halted, standing facing the
+reserved seats, as motionless as statues.
+
+The audience sat silent and expectant.  They felt that something
+still was before them, but what they had not the least idea, of
+course.
+
+"Up, Emperor!" commanded Mr. Kennedy in a quiet voice. "All
+ready, Phil."
+
+The elephant reared slowly on its hind legs, going higher and
+higher, as it did in its regular performance.
+
+As he went up, the bonnet on Emperor's head was seen to take on
+sudden life.  The old calico gown fell away from the huge beast
+at the same time, leaving him clothed in a brilliant blanket of
+white and gold.
+
+But a long drawn "a-h-h-h," rippled over the packed seats as the
+old elephant's bonnet suddenly collapsed.
+
+Out of the ruins rose a slender, supple figure, topping the
+pyramid of elephant flesh in a graceful poise.  The figure, clad
+in red silk tights, appeared to be that of a beautiful girl.
+
+The audience broke out into a thunder of approval, their feet
+drumming on the board seats sounding not unlike the rattle of
+musketry.
+
+The girl's hand was passed around to the back of her waist, where
+it lingered for an instant, then both hands were thrown forward
+just as a diver does before taking the plunge.
+
+"Ready?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Fly!"
+
+The young girl floated out and off from the elephant's back,
+landing gently on her feet just outside the sawdust ring.
+
+Emperor, at this juncture, threw himself forward on his forelegs,
+stretched out his trunk, encircling the performer's waist and
+lifting her clear off the ground.
+
+At that moment the supposed young woman stripped her blonde wig
+from her head, revealing the fact that the supposed girl was no
+girl at all.  It was a boy, and that boy was Phil Forrest.
+
+Emperor, holding his young friend at full length ahead of him,
+started rapidly for his quarters, Phil lying half on his side,
+appearing to be floating on the air, save for the black trunk
+that held him securely in its grip.
+
+At this the audience fairly howled in its surprise and delight,
+but Phil never varied his pose by a hair's breadth until Emperor
+finally set him down, flushed and triumphant, in the menagerie
+tent.
+
+At that moment Phil became conscious of a figure running toward
+him.
+
+He discovered at once that it was Mr. Sparling.
+
+Grasping both the lad's hands, the showman wrung them until it
+seemed to Phil as if his arms would be wrenched from their
+sockets.
+
+"Great, great, great!" cried the owner of the show.
+
+"Did you like it?" questioned the blushing Phil.
+
+"Like it?  Like it?  Boy, it's the greatest act I ever saw. It's
+a winner.  Come back with me."
+
+"What, into the ring?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But what shall I do?"
+
+"You don't have to do anything.  You've done it already. Show
+yourself, that's all.  Hurry!  Don't you hear them howling like a
+band of Comanche Indians?"
+
+"Y-yes."
+
+"They want you."
+
+By this time Mr. Sparling was fairly dragging Phil along with
+him. As they entered the big top the cheering broke out afresh.
+
+Phil was more disturbed than ever before in his life.  It seemed
+as though his legs would collapse under him.
+
+"Buck up!  Buck up!" snapped the showman.  "You are not going to
+get an attack of stage fright at this late hour, are you?"
+
+That was exactly what was the matter with Phil Forrest.  He was
+nearly scared out of his wits, but he did not realize the nature
+of his affliction.
+
+"Bow and kiss your hand to them," admonished the showman.
+
+Phil did so, but his face refused to smile.  He couldn't have
+smiled at that moment to save his life.
+
+All at once he wrenched himself loose from Mr. Sparling's grip,
+and ran full speed for the dressing tent.  He had not gone more
+than a dozen feet before he tripped over a rope, landing on head
+and shoulders.  But Phil was up like a rubber man and off again
+as if every animal in the menagerie was pursuing him.
+
+The spectators catching the meaning of his flight, stood up in
+their seats and howled lustily.
+
+Phil Forrest had made a hit that comes to few men in the sawdust
+arena.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
+
+"That was a knockout, kid," nodded Mr. Miaco, with emphasis. "I'm
+laughing on the inside of me yet.  I don't dare let my face
+laugh, for fear the wrinkles will break through my makeup."
+
+"Thank you," smiled Phil, tugging at his silk tights, that fitted
+so closely as to cause him considerable trouble in stripping them
+off.
+
+"You'll have the whole show jealous of you if you don't watch
+out. But don't get a swelled head--"
+
+"Not unless I fall off and bump it," laughed Phil.  "Where do I
+wash?"
+
+"You always want to get a pail of water before you undress."
+
+"Say, Phil, did you really fly?" queried Teddy, who was standing
+by eyeing his companion admiringly.
+
+"Sure.  Didn't you see me?"
+
+"I did and I didn't.  Will you show me how to fly like that?"
+
+" 'Course I will.  You come in under the big top tomorrow after
+the show and I'll give you a lesson."
+
+Teddy had not happened to observe the simple mechanical
+arrangement that had permitted the young circus performer to
+carry out his flying act.
+
+"I reckon you ought to get a dollar a day for that stunt,"
+decided Teddy.
+
+"Yes, I think so myself," grinned Phil.
+
+Teddy now turned his attention to Mr. Miaco, who, made up for his
+clown act in the ring, presented a most grotesque appearance.
+
+"How do I look?" asked the clown, noting the lad's observant
+gaze.
+
+"You look as if you'd stuck your head in a flour barrel," grunted
+Teddy.
+
+"Ho ho," laughed the clown.  "I'll have to try that on the
+audience. That's a good joke.  To look at you, one wouldn't think
+it of you, either."
+
+"Oh, that's nothing.  I can say funnier things than that when I
+want to.  Why--"
+
+But their conversation was cut short by the band striking up the
+tune to which Mr. Miaco always entered the ring.
+
+"Listen to me, kid.  You'll hear them laugh when I tell 'em the
+story," he called back.  And they did.  The audience roared when
+the funny man told them what his young friend had said.
+
+His work for the day having been finished, Phil bethought himself
+of his trunk, which had not yet been packed.  His costume was
+suspended from a line in the dressing tent where many other
+costumes were hanging to air and dry after the strenuous labors
+of their owners.
+
+Phil took his slender belongings down, shook them out well and
+laid them in the trunk that Mrs. Waite had given him.  It was too
+late for Phil to get his bag from the baggage wagon, so with a
+grin he locked his tights and his wig in the trunk.
+
+"Guess they won't break their backs lifting that outfit," he
+mused.
+
+Phil then strolled in to watch the show.  He found many new
+points of interest and much that was instructive, as he studied
+each act attentively and with the keenness of one who had been in
+the show business all his life.
+
+"Someday I'll have a show like this myself," nodded the boy. He
+did not know that he expressed his thoughts aloud until he
+noticed that the people sitting nearest to him were regarding him
+with amused smiles.
+
+Phil quickly repressed his audible comments.
+
+The show was soon over; then came the noise and the confusion of
+the breaking up.  The illusion was gone--the glamor was a thing
+of the past.  The lad strolled about slowly in search of his
+companion, whom he eventually found in the dressing tent.
+
+"Teddy, isn't it about time you and I went to bed?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, I don't know.  Circus people sleep when there isn't anything
+else to do.  Where we going to sleep?"
+
+"Same place, I presume, if no one gets ahead of us."
+
+"They'd better not.  I'll throw them out if they do."
+
+Phil laughed good-naturedly.
+
+"If I remember correctly, somebody was thrown out last night and
+this morning, but it didn't happen to be the other fellow. I'm
+hungry; wish I had something to eat."
+
+"So am I," agreed Teddy.
+
+"You boys should get a sandwich or so and keep the stuff in your
+trunk while we are playing these country towns.  When we get into
+the cities, where they have restaurants, you can get a lunch
+downtown after you have finished your act and then be back in
+time to go out with the wagons," Mr. Miaco informed them.
+"You'll pick up these little tricks as we go along, and it won't
+be long before you are full-fledged showmen.  You are pretty near
+that point already."
+
+The lads strolled out on the lot and began hunting for their
+wagon. They found nothing that looked like it for sometime and
+had about concluded that the canvas wagon had gone, when they
+chanced to come across the driver of the previous night, who
+directed them to where they would find it.
+
+"The wagon isn't loaded yet.  You'll have to wait half an hour or
+so," he said.
+
+They thanked him and went on in the direction indicated, where
+they soon found that which they were in search of.
+
+"I think we had better wait here until it is loaded," advised
+Phil, throwing himself down on the ground.
+
+"This having to hunt around over a ten-acre lot for your bedroom
+every night isn't as much fun as you would think, is it?" grinned
+Teddy.
+
+"Might be worse.  I have an idea we haven't begun to experience
+the real hardships of the circus life."  And indeed they had not.
+
+Soon after that the wagon was loaded, and, bidding the driver a
+cheery good night, the circus boys tumbled in and crawled under
+the canvas.
+
+They were awakened sometime before daylight by a sudden heavy
+downpour of rain.  The boys were soaked to the skin, the water
+having run in under the canvas until they were lying in a puddle
+of water.
+
+There was thunder and lightning.  Phil scrambled out first and
+glanced up at the driver, who, clothed in oilskins, was huddled
+on his seat fast asleep.  He did not seem to be aware that there
+was anything unusual about the weather.
+
+"I wish I was home," growled Teddy.
+
+"Well, I don't.  Bad as it is, it's better than some other things
+that I know of.  I'll tell you what I'll do--I'll get rubber
+coats for us both when we get in in the morning."
+
+"Got the money?"
+
+"That's so.  I had forgotten that," laughed Phil.  "I never
+thought that I should need money to buy a coat with.  We'll have
+to wait until payday.  I wonder when that is?"
+
+"Ask Mr. Sparling."
+
+"No; I would rather not."
+
+"All right; get wet then."
+
+"I am.  I couldn't be any more so were I to jump in the mill pond
+at home," laughed Phil.
+
+Home!  It seemed a long way off to these two friendless, or at
+least homeless, boys, though the little village of Edmeston was
+less than thirty miles away.
+
+The show did not get in to the next town until sometime after
+daylight, owing to the heavy condition of the roads.  The cook
+tent was up when they arrived and the lads lost no time in
+scrambling from the wagon.  They did not have to be thrown out
+this morning.
+
+"Come on," shouted Phil, making a run for the protection of the
+cook tent, for the rain was coming down in sheets.
+
+Teddy was not far behind.
+
+"I'm the coffee boy.  Where's the coffee?" he shouted.
+
+"Have it in a few minutes," answered the attendant who had been
+so kind to them the previous morning.  "Here, you boys, get over
+by the steam boiler there and dry out your clothes," he added,
+noting that their teeth were chattering.
+
+"Wish somebody would pour a pail of water over me," shivered
+Teddy.
+
+"Water?  What for?"
+
+"To wash the rain off.  I'm soaked," he answered humorously.
+
+They huddled around the steam boiler, the warmth from which they
+found very comforting in their bedraggled condition.
+
+"I'm steaming like an engine," laughed Phil, taking off his coat
+and holding it near the boiler.
+
+"Yes; I've got enough of it in my clothes to run a sawmill,"
+agreed Teddy.  "How about that coffee?"
+
+"Here it is."
+
+After helping themselves they felt much better.  Phil, after a
+time, walked to the entrance of the cook tent and looked out. The
+same bustle and excitement as on the previous two days was
+noticeable everywhere, and the men worked as if utterly oblivious
+of the fact that the rain was falling in torrents.
+
+"Do we parade today?" called Phil, observing Mr. Sparling
+hurrying past wrapped in oilskins and slouch hat.
+
+"This show gives a parade and two performances a day, rain,
+shine, snow or earthquake," was the emphatic answer.  "Come over
+to my tent in half an hour.  I have something to say to you."
+
+Phil ran across to Mr. Sparling's tent at the expiration of half
+an hour, but he was ahead of time evidently, for the showman was
+not there.  Nice dry straw had been piled on the ground in the
+little tent to take up the moisture, giving it a cosy,
+comfortable look inside.
+
+"This wouldn't be a half bad place to sleep," decided Phil,
+looking about him.  "I don't suppose we ever play the same town
+two nights in succession.  I must find out."
+
+Mr. Sparling bustled in at this point, stripping off his wet
+oilskins and hanging them on a hook on the tent pole at the
+further end.
+
+"Where'd you sleep?"
+
+"In wagon No. 10."
+
+"Get wet?"
+
+"Very."
+
+"Humph!"
+
+"We dried out in the cook tent when we got in.  It might have
+been worse."
+
+"Easily satisfied, aren't you?"
+
+"I don't know about that.  I expect to meet with some
+disagreeable experiences."
+
+"You won't be disappointed.  You'll get all that's coming to you.
+It'll make a man of you if you stand it."
+
+"And if I don't?" questioned Phil Forrest, with a smile.
+
+Mr. Sparling answered by a shrug of the shoulders.
+
+"We'll have to make some different arrangements for you," he
+added in a slightly milder tone.  "Can't afford to have you get
+sick and knock your act out.  It's too important.  I'll fire some
+lazy, good-for-nothing performer out of a closed wagon and give
+you his place."
+
+"Oh, I should rather not have you do that, sir."
+
+"Who's running this show?" snapped the owner.
+
+Phil made no reply.
+
+"I am.  I'll turn out whom I please and when I please.  I've been
+in the business long enough to know when I've got a good thing.
+Where's your rubber coat?" he demanded, changing the subject
+abruptly.
+
+"I have none, sir.  I shall get an outfit later."
+
+"No money, I suppose?"
+
+"Well, no, sir."
+
+"Humph!  Why didn't you ask for some?"
+
+"I did not like to."
+
+"You're too modest.  If you want a thing go after it.  That's my
+motto. Here's ten dollars.  Go downtown and get you a coat, and
+be lively about it.  Wait a minute!" as Phil, uttering profuse
+thanks, started away to obey his employer's command.
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"About that act of yours.  Did you think it out all yourself?"
+
+"The idea was mine.  Of course the property man and Mr. Kennedy
+worked it out for me.  I should not have been able to do it
+alone."
+
+"Humph!  Little they did.  They wouldn't have thought of it in a
+thousand years.  Performers usually are too well satisfied with
+themselves to think there's anything worthwhile except what
+they've been doing since they came out of knickerbockers. How'd
+you get the idea?"
+
+"I don't know--it just came to me."
+
+"Then keep on thinking.  That act is worth real money to any
+show. How much did I say I'd pay you?"
+
+"Ten dollars a week, sir."
+
+"Humph!  I made a mistake.  I won't give you ten."
+
+Phil looked solemn.
+
+"I'll give you twenty.  I'd give you more, but it might spoil
+you. Get out of here and go buy yourself a coat."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+HIS FIRST SETBACK
+
+"Tha--thank--"
+
+"Out with you!"
+
+Laughing, his face flushed with pride and satisfaction, Phil did
+move. Not even pausing to note what direction he should go, he
+hurried on toward the village, perhaps more by instinct than
+otherwise.  He was too full of this wonderful thing that had come
+to him--success--to take note of his surroundings.
+
+To Phil there was no rain.  Though he already was drenched to the
+skin he did not know it.
+
+All at once he pulled himself up sharply.
+
+"Phil Forrest, you are getting excited," he chided.  "Now, don't
+you try to make yourself believe you are the whole show, for you
+are only a little corner of it.  You are not even a side show.
+You are a lucky boy, but you are going to keep your head level
+and try to earn your money.  Twenty dollars a week!  Why, it's
+wealth!  I can see Uncle Abner shaking his stick when he hears of
+it.  I must write to Mrs. Cahill and tell her the good news.
+She'll be glad, though I'll warrant the boys at home will be
+jealous when they hear about how I am getting on in the world."
+
+Thus talking to himself, Phil plodded on in the storm until he
+reached the business part of the town.  There he found a store
+and soon had provided himself with a serviceable rubber coat, a
+pair of rubber boots and a soft hat.  He put on his purchases,
+doing up his shoes and carrying them back under his arm.
+
+The parade started at noon.  It was a dismal affair--that is, so
+far as the performers were concerned, and the clowns looked much
+more funny than they felt.
+
+Mr. Miaco enlivened the spirits of those on the hayrack by
+climbing to the back of one of the horses drawing the clowns'
+wagon, where he sat with a doll's parasol over his head and a
+doll in his arms singing a lullaby.
+
+The people who were massed along the sidewalks of the main street
+did not appear to mind the rain at all.  They were too much
+interested in the free show being given for their benefit.
+
+The show people ate dinner with their feet in the mud that day,
+the cook tent having been pitched on a barren strip of ground.
+
+"This is where the Armless Wonder has the best of us today,"
+nodded Teddy, with his usual keen eye for humor.
+
+"How is that?" questioned Mr. Miaco.
+
+" 'Cause he don't have to put his feet in the mud like the rest
+of us do.  He keeps them on the table.  I wish I could put my
+feet on the table."
+
+Everybody within hearing laughed heartily.
+
+In the tents there was little to remind one of the dismal
+weather, save for the roar of the falling rain on the canvas
+overhead. Straw had been piled all about on the ground inside the
+two large tents, and only here and there were there any muddy
+spots, though the odor of fresh wet grass was everywhere.
+
+The afternoon performance went off without a hitch, though the
+performers were somewhat more slow than usual, owing to the
+uncertainty of the footing for man and beast.  Phil Forrest's
+exhibition was even more successful than it had been in the last
+show town.  He was obliged to run back to the ring and show
+himself after having been carried from the tent by Emperor. This
+time, however, his stage fright had entirely left him, never to
+return.  He was now a seasoned showman, after something less than
+three days under canvas.
+
+The afternoon show being finished, and supper out of the way,
+Phil and Teddy returned to the big top to practice on the flying
+rings, which they had obtained permission to use.
+
+Mr. Miaco, himself an all around acrobat, was on hand to watch
+their work and to offer suggestions.  He had taken a keen
+interest in Phil Forrest, seeing in the lad the making of a
+high-class circus performer.
+
+The rings were let down to within about ten feet of the sawdust
+ring, and one at a time the two lads were hoisted by the clown
+until their fingers grasped the iron rings.
+
+With several violent movements of their bodies they curled their
+feet up, slipping them through the rings, first having grasped
+the ropes above the rings.
+
+"That was well done.  Quite professional," nodded the clown.
+"Take hold of this rope and I will swing you.  If it makes you
+dizzy, tell me."
+
+"Don't worry; it won't," laughed Phil.
+
+"Give me a shove, too," urged Teddy.
+
+"In a minute."
+
+Mr. Miaco began swinging Phil backwards and forwards, his speed
+ever increasing, and as he went higher and higher, Phil let
+himself down, fastening his hands on the rings that he might
+assist in the swinging.
+
+"Now, see if you can get back in the rings with your legs."
+
+"That's easy," answered Phil, his breath coming sharp and fast,
+for he never had taken such a long sweep in the rings before.
+
+The feat was not quite so easy as he had imagined.  Phil made
+three attempts before succeeding.  But he mastered it and came up
+smiling.
+
+"Good," cried the clown, clapping his hands approvingly.
+
+"Give me another swing.  I want to try something else."
+
+Having gained sufficient momentum, the lad, after reaching the
+point where the rings would start on their backward flight,
+permitted his legs to slip through the rings, catching them with
+his feet.
+
+He swept back, head and arms hanging down, as skillfully as if he
+had been doing that very thing right along.
+
+"You'll do," emphasized the clown.  "You will need to put a
+little more finish in your work.  I'll give you a lesson in that
+next time."
+
+Teddy, not to be outdone, went through the same exhibition,
+though not quite with the same speed that Phil had shown.
+
+It being the hour when the performers always gathered in the big
+top to practice and play, many of them stood about watching the
+boys work.  They nodded their heads approvingly when Phil
+finished and swung himself to the ground.
+
+Teddy, on his part, overrated his ability when it came to hanging
+by his feet.
+
+"Look out!" warned half a dozen performers at once.
+
+He had not turned his left foot into the position where it would
+catch and hold in the ring.  Their trained eyes had noted this
+omission instantly.
+
+The foot, of course, failed to catch, and Teddy uttered a howl
+when he found himself falling.  His fall, however, was checked by
+a sharp jolt.  The right foot had caught properly.  As he swept
+past the laughing performers he was dangling in the air like a
+huge spider, both hands and one foot clawing the air in a
+desperate manner.
+
+There was nothing they could do to liberate him from his
+uncomfortable position until the momentum of his swing had
+lessened sufficiently to enable them to catch him.
+
+"Hold your right steady!" cautioned Miaco.  "If you twist it
+you'll take a beauty tumble."
+
+Teddy hadn't thought of that before.  Had Miaco known the lad
+better he would not have made the mistake of giving that advice.
+
+Teddy promptly turned his foot.
+
+He shot from the flying rings as if he had been fired from a
+cannon.
+
+Phil tried to catch him, but stumbled and fell over a rope, while
+Teddy shot over his head, landing on and diving head first into a
+pile of straw that had just been brought in to bed down the tent
+for the evening performance.
+
+Nothing of Teddy save his feet was visible.
+
+They hauled him out by those selfsame feet, and, after
+disentangling him from the straws that clung to him, were
+relieved to find that he had not been hurt in the least.
+
+"I guess we shall have to put a net under you.  Lucky for you
+that that pile of straw happened to get in your way.  Do you know
+what would have happened to you had it not been?" demanded Mr.
+Miaco.
+
+"I--I guess I'd have made a hit," decided Teddy wisely.
+
+"I guess there is no doubt about that."
+
+The performers roared.
+
+"I'm going to try it again."
+
+"No; you've done enough for one day.  You won't be able to hold
+up the coffeepot tomorrow morning if you do much more."
+
+"Do you think we will be able to accomplish anything on the
+flying rings, Mr. Miaco?" asked Phil after they had returned to
+the dressing tent.
+
+"There is no doubt of it.  Were I in your place I should take an
+hour's work on them every day.  Besides building you up
+generally, it will make you surer and better able to handle
+yourself. Then, again, you never know what minute you may be able
+to increase your income.  People in this business often profit by
+others' misfortunes," added the clown significantly.
+
+"I would prefer not to profit that way," answered Phil.
+
+"You would rather do it by your own efforts?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It all amounts to the same thing.  You are liable to be put out
+any minute yourself, then somebody else will get your job, if you
+are a performer of importance to the show."
+
+"You mean if my act is?"
+
+"That's what I mean."
+
+The old clown and the enthusiastic young showman talked in the
+dressing tent until it was time for each to begin making up for
+the evening performance.
+
+The dressing tent was the real home of the performers.  They knew
+no other.  It was there that they unpacked their trunks--there
+that during their brief stay they pinned up against the canvas
+walls the pictures of their loved ones, many of whom were far
+across the sea. A bit of ribbon here, a faded flower drawn from
+the recess of a trunk full of silk and spangles, told of the
+tender hearts that were beating beneath those iron-muscled
+breasts, and that they were as much human beings as their
+brothers in other walks of life.
+
+Much of this Phil understood in a vague way as he watched them
+from day to day.  He was beginning to like these big-hearted,
+big-muscled fellows, though there were those among them who were
+not desirable as friends.
+
+"I guess it's just the same as it is at home," decided Phil.
+"Some of the folks are worthwhile, and others are not."
+
+He had summed it up.
+
+Sometime before the evening performance was due to begin Phil was
+made up and ready for his act.  As his exhibition came on at the
+very beginning he had to be ready early.  Then, again, he was
+obliged to walk all the way to the menagerie tent to reach his
+elephant.
+
+Throwing a robe over his shoulders and pulling his hat well down
+over his eyes, the lad pushed the silken curtains aside and began
+working his way toward the front, beating against the human tide
+that had set in against him, wet, dripping, but good natured.
+
+"Going to have a wet night," observed Teddy, whom he met at the
+entrance to the menagerie tent.
+
+"Looks that way.  But never mind; I'll share my rubber coat with
+you. We can put it over us and sit up to sleep.  That will make a
+waterproof tent.  Perhaps we may be able to find a stake or
+something to stick up in the middle of the coat."
+
+"But the canvas under us will be soaked," grumbled Teddy. "We'll
+be wetter than ever."
+
+"We'll gather some straw and tie it up in a tight bundle to put
+under us when we get located.  There goes the band.  I must be
+off, or you'll hear Emperor screaming for me."
+
+"He's at it now.  Hear him?"
+
+"I couldn't well help hearing that roar," laughed Phil, starting
+off on a run.
+
+The grand entry was made, Phil crouching low in the bonnet on the
+big beast's head.  It was an uncomfortable position, but he did
+not mind it in the least.  The only thing that troubled Phil was
+the fear that the head gear might become disarranged and spoil
+the effect of his surprise.  There were many in the tent who had
+seen him make his flight at the afternoon performance, and had
+returned with their friends almost solely to witness the pretty
+spectacle again.
+
+The time had arrived for Emperor to rise for his grand salute to
+the audience.  Mr. Kennedy had given Phil his cue, the lad had
+braced himself to straighten up suddenly.  A strap had been
+attached to the elephant's head harness for Phil to take hold of
+to steady himself by when he first straightened up.  Until his
+position was erect Emperor could not grasp the boy's legs with
+his trunk.
+
+"Right!" came the trainer's command.
+
+The circus boy thrust out his elbows, and the bonnet fell away,
+as he rose smiling to face the sea of white, expectant faces
+before him.
+
+While they were applauding he fastened the flying wire to the
+ring in his belt.  The wire, which was suspended from above, was
+so small that it was wholly invisible to the spectators, which
+heightened the effect of his flight.  So absorbed were the people
+in watching the slender figure each time that they failed to
+observe an attendant hauling on a rope near the center pole,
+which was the secret of Phil's ability to fly.
+
+Throwing his hands out before him the little performer dove
+gracefully out into the air.
+
+There was a slight jolt.  Instantly he knew that something was
+wrong. The audience, too, instinctively felt that the act was not
+ending as it should.
+
+Phil was falling.  He was plunging straight toward the ring, head
+first.  He struck heavily, crumpling up in a little heap, then
+straightening out, while half a dozen attendants ran to the lad,
+hastily picking him up and hurrying to the dressing tent with the
+limp, unconscious form.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+LEFT BEHIND
+
+"Is he hurt much?"
+
+"Don't know.  Maybe he's broken his neck."
+
+This brief dialogue ensued between two painted clowns hurrying to
+their stations.
+
+In the meantime the band struck up a lively air, the clowns
+launched into a merry medley of song and jest and in a few
+moments the spectators forgot the scene they had just witnessed,
+in the noise, the dash and the color.  It would come back to them
+later like some long-past dream.
+
+Mr. Kennedy, with grim, set face, uttered a stern command to
+Emperor, who for a brief instant had stood irresolute, as if
+pondering as to whether he should turn and plunge for the red
+silk curtains behind which his little friend had disappeared in
+the arms of the attendants.
+
+The trainer's voice won, and Emperor trumpeting loudly, took his
+way to his quarters without further protest.
+
+In the dressing tent another scene was being enacted.  On two
+drawn-up trunks, over which had been thrown a couple of horse
+blankets, they had laid the slender, red-clad figure of Phil
+Forrest.
+
+The boy's pale face appeared even more ashen than it really was
+under the flickering glare of the gasoline torches.  His head had
+been propped up on a saddle, while about him stood a half circle
+of solemn-faced performers in various stages of undress and
+makeup.
+
+"Is he badly hurt?" asked one.
+
+"Can't say.  Miaco has gone for the doc.  We'll know pretty soon.
+That was a dandy tumble he took."
+
+"How did it happen?"
+
+"Wire broke.  You can't put no faith on a wire with a kink in it.
+I nearly got my light put out, out in St. Joe, Missouri, by a
+trick like that.  No more swinging wire for me.  Guess the kid,
+if he pulls out of this, will want to hang on to a rope after
+this. He will if he's wise."
+
+"What's this?  What's this?" roared Mr. Sparling, who, having
+heard of the accident, came rushing into the tent.  "Who's hurt?"
+
+"The kid," informed someone.
+
+"What kid?  Can't you fellows talk?  Oh, it's Forrest, is it? How
+did it happen?"
+
+One of the performers who had witnessed the accident related what
+he had observed.
+
+"Huh!" grunted the showman, stepping up beside Phil and placing a
+hand on the boy's heart.
+
+"Huh!"
+
+"He's alive, isn't he, Mr. Sparling?"
+
+"Yes.  Anybody gone for the doctor?"
+
+"Miaco has."
+
+"Wonder any of you had sense enough to think of that. I
+congratulate you.  Somebody will suffer when I find out who was
+responsible for hanging that boy's life on a rotten old piece of
+wire.  I presume it's been kicking around this outfit for the
+last seven years."
+
+"Here comes the doc," announced a voice.
+
+There was a tense silence in the dressing tent, broken only by
+the patter of the rain drops on the canvas roof, while the show's
+surgeon was making his examination.
+
+"Well, well!  What about it?" demanded Mr. Sparling impatiently.
+
+The surgeon did not answer at once.  His calm, professional
+demeanor was not to be disturbed by the blustering but kind-
+hearted showman, and the showman, knowing this from past
+experience, relapsed into silence until such time as the surgeon
+should conclude to answer him.
+
+"Did he fall on his head?" he questioned, looking up, at the same
+time running his fingers over Phil's dark-brown hair.
+
+"Looks that way, doesn't it?"
+
+"I should say so."
+
+"What's the matter with him?"
+
+"I shall be unable to decide definitely for an hour or so yet,
+unless he regains consciousness in the meantime.  It may be a
+fracture of the skull or a mere concussion."
+
+"Huh!"
+
+Mr. Sparling would have said more, but for the fact that the calm
+eyes of the surgeon were fixed upon him in a level gaze.
+
+"Any bones broken?"
+
+"No; I think not.  How far did he fall?"
+
+"Fell from Emperor's head when the bull was up in the air. He
+must have taken all of a twenty-foot dive, I should say."
+
+"Possible?  It's a great wonder he didn't break his neck.  But he
+is very well muscled for a boy of his age.  I don't suppose they
+have a hospital in this town?"
+
+"Of course not.  They never have anything in these tank towns.
+You ought to know that by this time."
+
+"They have a hotel.  I know for I took dinner there today.  If
+you will get a carriage of some sort I think we had better take
+him there."
+
+"Leave him, you mean?" questioned Mr. Sparling.
+
+"Yes; that will be best.  We can put him in charge of a local
+physician here.  He ought to be able to take care of the boy all
+right."
+
+"Not by a jug full!" roared Mr. James Sparling.  "We'll do
+nothing of the sort."
+
+"It will not be safe to take him with us, Sparling."
+
+"Did I say it would?  Did I?  Of course, he shan't be moved, nor
+will he be left to one of these know-nothing sawbones.  You'll
+stay here with him yourself, and you'll take care of him if you
+know what's good for you.  I'd rather lose most any five men in
+this show than that boy there."
+
+The surgeon nodded his approval of the sentiment.  He, too, had
+taken quite a fancy to Phil, because of the lad's sunny
+disposition and natural brightness.
+
+"Get out the coach some of you fellows.  Have my driver hook up
+and drive back into the paddock here, and be mighty quick about
+it. Here, doc, is a head of lettuce (roll of money).  If you need
+any more, you know where to reach us.  Send me a telegram in the
+morning and another tomorrow night.  Keep me posted and pull that
+boy out of this scrape or you'll be everlastingly out of a job
+with the Sparling Combined Shows.  Understand?"
+
+The surgeon nodded understandingly.  He had heard Mr. Sparling
+bluster on other occasions, and it did not make any great
+impression upon him.
+
+The carriage was quickly at hand.  Circus people were in the
+habit of obeying orders promptly.  A quick drive was made to the
+hotel, where the circus boy was quickly undressed and put to bed.
+
+All during the night the surgeon worked faithfully over his
+little charge, and just as the first streaks of daylight slanted
+through the window and across the white counterpane, Phil opened
+his eyes.
+
+For only a moment did they remain open, then closed again.
+
+The surgeon drew a long, deep breath.
+
+"Not a fracture," he announced aloud.  "I'm thankful for that."
+He drew the window shades down to shut out the light, as it was
+all important that Phil should be kept quiet for a time.  But the
+surgeon did not sleep.  He sat keen-eyed by the side of the bed,
+now and then noting the pulse of his patient, touching the lad's
+cheeks with light fingers.
+
+After a time the fresh morning air, fragrant with the fields and
+flowers, drifted in, and the birds in the trees took up their
+morning songs.
+
+"I guess the storm must be over," muttered the medical man,
+rising softly and peering out from behind the curtain.
+
+The day was dawning bright and beautiful.
+
+"My, it feels good to be in bed!" said a voice from the opposite
+side of the room.  "Where am I?"
+
+The surgeon wheeled sharply.
+
+"You are to keep very quiet.  You had a tumble that shook you up
+considerably."
+
+"What time is it?" demanded Phil sharply.
+
+"About five o'clock in the morning."
+
+"I must get up; I must get up."
+
+"You will lie perfectly still.  The show will get along without
+you today, I guess."
+
+"You don't mean they have gone on and left me?"
+
+"Of course; they couldn't wait for you."
+
+The boys eyes filled with tears.
+
+"I knew it couldn't last.  I knew it."
+
+"See here, do you want to join the show again?"
+
+"Of course, I do."
+
+"Well, then, lie still.  The more quiet you keep the sooner you
+will be able to get out.  Try to go to sleep.  I must go
+downstairs and send a message to Mr. Sparling, for he is very
+much concerned about you."
+
+"Then he will take me back?" asked Phil eagerly.
+
+"Of course he will."
+
+"I'll go to sleep, doctor."
+
+Phil turned over on his side and a moment later was breathing
+naturally.
+
+The doctor tip-toed from the room and hastened down to the hotel
+office where he penned the following message:
+
+
+
+James Sparling,
+
+   Sparling Combined Shows,
+
+      Boyertown.
+
+   Forrest recovers consciousness.  Not a fracture.  Expect him
+to be all right in a few days.  Will stay unless further orders.
+
+     Irvine.
+
+
+
+"I think I'll go upstairs and get a bit of a nap myself," decided
+the surgeon, after having directed the sleepy clerk to see to it
+that the message was dispatched to its destination at once.
+
+He found Phil sleeping soundly.  Throwing himself into a chair
+the surgeon, used to getting a catnap whenever and wherever
+possible, was soon sleeping as soundly as was his young patient.
+
+Neither awakened until the day was nearly done.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+A STARTLING DISCOVERY
+
+Phil's recovery was rapid, though four days passed before he was
+permitted to leave his bed.  As soon as he was able to get
+downstairs and sit out on the front porch of the hotel he found
+himself an object of interest as well as curiosity.
+
+The story of his accident had been talked of until it had grown
+out of all proportion to the real facts in the case.  The boys of
+the village hung over the porch rail and eyed him wonderingly and
+admiringly.  It did not fall to their lot every day to get
+acquainted with a real circus boy.  They asked him all manner of
+questions, which the lad answered gladly, for even though he had
+suffered a severe accident, he was not beyond enjoying the
+admiration of his fellows.
+
+"It must be great to be a circus boy," marveled one.
+
+"It is until you fall off and crack your head," laughed Phil.
+"It's not half so funny then."
+
+After returning to his room that day Phil pondered deeply over
+the accident.  He could not understand it.
+
+"Nobody seems to know what really did happen," he mused. "Dr.
+Irvine says the wire broke.  That doesn't seem possible."
+
+Off in the little dog tent of the owner of the show, Mr. James
+Sparling, on the day following the accident, was asking himself
+almost the same questions.
+
+He sent for Mr. Kennedy after having disposed of his early
+morning business.  There was a scowl on the owner's face, but it
+had not been caused by the telegram which lay on the desk before
+him, informing him that Phil was not seriously hurt.  That was a
+source of keen satisfaction to the showman, for he felt that he
+could not afford to lose the young circus boy.
+
+Teddy was so upset over it, however, that the boss had about made
+up his mind to let Phil's companion go back and join him.
+
+While the showman was thinking the matter over, Mr. Kennedy
+appeared at the opening of the dog tent.
+
+"Morning," he greeted, which was responded to by a muttered
+"Huh!" from James Sparling.
+
+"Come in.  What are you standing out there for?"
+
+Kennedy was so used to this form of salutation that he paid no
+further attention to it than to obey the summons.
+
+He entered and stood waiting for his employer to speak.
+
+"I want you to tell me exactly what occurred last night, when
+young Forrest got hurt, Kennedy."
+
+"I can't tell you any more about it than you heard last night. He
+had started to make his dive before I noticed that anything was
+wrong.  He didn't stop until he landed on his head.  They said
+the wire snapped."
+
+"Did it?"
+
+"I guess so," grinned Kennedy.
+
+"Who is responsible for having picked out that wire?"
+
+"I guess I am."
+
+"And you have the face to stand there and tell me so?"
+
+"I usually tell the truth, don't I?"
+
+"Yes, yes; you do.  That's what I like about you."
+
+"Heard from the kid this morning?"
+
+"Yes; he'll be all right in a few days.  Concussion and general
+shaking up; that's all, but it's enough.  How are the bulls this
+morning?"
+
+"Emperor is sour.  Got a regular grouch on."
+
+"Misses that young rascal Phil, I suppose?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"H-m-m-m!"
+
+"Didn't want to come through last night at all."
+
+"H-m-m-m.  Guess we'd better fire you and let the boy handle the
+bulls; don't you think so?"
+
+The trainer grinned and nodded.
+
+"Kennedy, you've been making your brags that you always tell me
+the truth.  I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to
+see if you can make that boast good."
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+Perhaps the trainer understood something of what was in his
+employer's mind, for his lips closed sharply while his jaw took
+on a belligerent look.
+
+"How did that wire come to break, Kennedy?"
+
+The question came out with a snap, as if the showman already had
+made up his mind as to what the answer should be.
+
+"It was cut, sir," answered the trainer promptly.
+
+The lines in Mr. Sparling's face drew hard and tense.  Instead of
+a violent outburst of temper, which Kennedy fully expected, the
+owner sat silently contemplating his trainer for a full minute.
+
+"Who did it?"
+
+"I couldn't guess."
+
+"I didn't ask you to guess.  I can guess for myself.  I asked who
+did it?"
+
+"I don't know.  I haven't the least idea who would do a job like
+that in this show.  I hope the mean hound will take French leave
+before I get him spotted, sir."
+
+Mr. Sparling nodded with emphasis.
+
+"I hope so, Kennedy.  What makes you think the wire was cut?"
+
+With great deliberation the trainer drew a small package from his
+inside coat pocket, carefully unwrapped it, placing the contents
+on the table in front of Mr. Sparling.
+
+"What's this--what's this?"
+
+"That's the wire."
+
+"But there are two pieces here--"
+
+"Yes.  I cut off a few feet on each side of where the break
+occurred. Those are the two."
+
+Mr. Sparling regarded them critically.
+
+"How can you tell that the wire has been cut, except where you
+cut it yourself?"
+
+"It was cut halfway through with a file, as you can see, sir.
+When Forrest threw his weight on it, of course the wire parted at
+the weakened point."
+
+"H-m-m-m."
+
+"If you will examine it, an inch or two above the cut, you will
+find two or three file marks, where the file started to cut, then
+was moved down.  Probably slipped.  Looks like it.  Don't you
+think I'm right, sir?"
+
+Mr. Sparling nodded reflectively.
+
+"There can be no doubt of it.  You think it was done between the
+two performances yesterday?"
+
+"Oh, yes.  That cut wouldn't have held through one performance.
+It was cut during the afternoon."
+
+"Who was in the tent between the shows?"
+
+"Pretty much the whole crowd.  But, if you will remember, the day
+was dark and stormy.  There was a time late in the afternoon,
+before the torches were lighted, when the big top was almost in
+darkness.  It's my idea that the job was done then. Anybody could
+have done it without being discovered.  It's likely there wasn't
+anybody in the tent except himself at the time."
+
+"Kennedy, I want you to find out who did that.  Understand?"
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+TEDDY DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
+
+"The boss has an awful grouch on."
+
+"Yes; I wonder what's the matter with him," pondered the clown.
+
+His brother fun-maker shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Guess he's mad because of young Forrest's accident.  Just got a
+good act started when he had to go and spoil it."
+
+Not a hint of the suspicion entertained by the owner and his
+elephant trainer had been breathed about the show.  Nearly a week
+had passed since Phil's narrow escape from death; yet, despite
+all the efforts of Kennedy or the shrewd observation of his
+employer, they were no nearer a solution of the mystery than
+before.  The days passed, and with them the anger of James
+Sparling increased.
+
+"That chum of Forrest's is a funny fellow," continued the first
+speaker.  "He'd make a good clown?"
+
+"Make?  He's one already.  Look at him."
+
+Teddy was perched on the back of Jumbo, the trick mule of the
+show, out in the paddock, where the performers were indulging in
+various strange antics for the purpose of limbering themselves up
+prior to entering the ring for their acts.
+
+The bright, warm sunlight was streaming down, picking up little
+flames from the glistening spangles sprinkled over the costumes
+of many of the circus folks.
+
+Teddy and Jumbo had become fast friends--a strangely assorted
+pair, and whenever the opportunity presented itself Teddy would
+mount the ugly looking mule, riding him about the paddock or the
+ring when there was nothing going on under the big top.  Every
+time the pair made their appearance it was the signal for a shout
+of merriment from the performers.
+
+Teddy had perched himself on Jumbo's back while the mule was
+awaiting his turn to enter the ring, which he did alone,
+performing his act with nothing save the crack of the
+ringmaster's whip to guide him.
+
+Somebody had jammed a clown's cap on Teddy's head, while someone
+else had hit it a smash with the flat of his hand, until the peak
+of the cap lopped over to one side disconsolately.
+
+Teddy's face wore an appreciative grin, Jumbo's long ears lying
+as far back on his head as they would reach.  To the ordinary
+observer it might have been supposed that the mule was angry
+about something. On the contrary, it was his way of showing his
+pleasure.  When a pan of oats was thrust before Jumbo, or he
+chanced upon a patch of fresh, tender grass, the ears expressed
+the animal's satisfaction.
+
+Jumbo could do pretty much everything except talk, but
+occasionally the stubbornness of his kind took possession of him.
+At such times the trick mule was wont to do the most erratic
+things.
+
+"How'd you like to ride him in?" chuckled Miaco, who stood
+regarding the lad with a broad smile.
+
+"If I had a saddle I wouldn't mind it," grinned Teddy's funny
+face as an accompaniment to his words.
+
+Jumbo's equipment consisted of a cinch girth and a pair of bridle
+reins connected with a headstall.  There was no bit, but the
+effect was to arch his neck like that of a proud stallion.
+
+"You'd make the hit of your life if you did," laughed Miaco.
+"Wonder the boss don't have you do it."
+
+"Would if he knew about it," spoke up a performer.  "The really
+funny things don't get into the ring in a circus, unless by
+accident."
+
+In the meantime the ringmaster was making his loud-voiced
+announcement out under the big top.
+
+"Ladies and gentlemen," he roared, after a loud crack of his
+long-lashed whip, to attract the attention of the people to him,
+"we are now about to introduce the wonderful performing mule
+Jumbo, the only broncho-bucking, bobtailed mule in the world.
+You will notice that he performs without a rider, without human
+interference. Please do not speak to Jumbo while he is going
+through his act. Ladies and gentlemen, Jumbo, the great educated
+mule, will now make his appearance unaided by human hand."
+
+The audience applauded the announcement.
+
+At that moment the band struck up the tune by which Jumbo always
+made his entrance.  At the first blare of the brass a fun-loving
+clown jabbed Jumbo with a pin.  The mule did the rest.
+
+"Here!  Here!  Get off that mule!" shouted the animal's trainer.
+"He's going on!"
+
+"Let him go!" roared clowns and other performers.
+
+Jumbo had never made as quick a start in all his circus career as
+he did that day.  He fairly leaped into the air, though only one
+man understood the reason for the mule's sudden move.
+
+With a bray that was heard all over the big top Jumbo burst
+through the red curtains like a tornado.  There he paused for one
+brief instant, as if uncertain whether to do a certain thing or
+not.
+
+Recalling the ringmaster's words, the spectators at first were at
+a loss to account for the odd-looking figure that was clinging to
+the back of the educated mule.
+
+Suddenly they broke out into roars of laughter, while the
+performers peering through the red curtain fairly howled with
+delight.
+
+Teddy was hanging to the cinch girth uncertain what to do. The
+ringmaster, amazed beyond words, stood gaping at the spectacle,
+for the moment powerless to use his usually ready tongue.
+
+Jumbo launched into the arena.
+
+"Get off!" thundered the ringmaster, suddenly recovering himself.
+
+"I can't!" howled Teddy, though from present indications it
+appeared as if he would dismount without any effort on his own
+part.
+
+Jumbo's heels flew into the air, then began a series of lunges,
+bucking and terrific kicking such as none among the vast audience
+ever had witnessed in or out of a show ring.
+
+One instant Teddy would be standing on his head on the mule's
+back, the next lying on his back with feet toward the animal's
+head. Next he would be dragged along the ground, to be plumped
+back again at the next bounce.
+
+No feat seemed too difficult for Jumbo to attempt that day.
+
+"Stop him!  Stop him!" howled the ringmaster.
+
+Ring attendants rushed forward to obey his command, but they
+might as well have tried to stop a tornado.  Jumbo eluded them
+without the least trouble, but their efforts to keep out of range
+of his flying hoofs were not so easy.  Some of them had narrow
+escapes from being seriously injured.
+
+Mr. Sparling, attracted by the roars of laughter of the audience
+and the unusual disturbance, had hurried into the big top, where
+he stood, at first in amazement, then with a broad grin
+overspreading his countenance.
+
+Now Jumbo began a race with himself about the arena, following
+the concourse, now and then sending his heels into the air right
+over the heads of the spectators of the lower row of seats,
+sending them scrambling under the seats for protection.
+
+A clown ran out with half a dozen paper covered hoops, which he
+was holding in readiness for the next bareback act.
+
+He flaunted them in the face of the runaway mule.
+
+Jumbo ducked his head under them and Teddy Tucker's head went
+through the paper with a crash, the mule's heels at that instant
+being high in the air.
+
+With the rings hung about his neck, Teddy cut a more ridiculous
+figure than ever.  The audience went wild with excitement.
+
+Now the ringmaster, angered beyond endurance, began reaching for
+Teddy with the long lash of his whip.  The business end of the
+lash once brushed the boy's cheek.
+
+It stung him.
+
+"Ouch!" howled Teddy as he felt the lash.
+
+"Stop that!" exploded Mr. Sparling, who, by this time, had gotten
+into the ring to take a hand in the performance himself.  He
+grabbed the irate ringmaster by the collar, giving him a jerk
+that that functionary did not forget in a hurry.
+
+Jumbo, however, was no respecter of persons.  He had taken a
+short cut across the ring just as the owner had begun his
+correction of the ringmaster.  Jumbo shook out his heels again.
+They caught the owner's sombrero and sent it spinning into the
+air.
+
+Mr. Sparling, in his excitement, forgot all about the ringmaster.
+Picking up a tent stake, he hurled it after the educated mule,
+missing him by a full rod.
+
+The audience by this time was in a tempest of excitement.  At
+first they thought it was all a part of the show.  But they were
+soon undeceived, which made their enjoyment and appreciation all
+the greater.
+
+Jumbo took a final sprint about the arena, Teddy's legs and free
+arm most of the time in the air.  He had long since lost his
+clown's cap, which Jumbo, espying, had kicked off into the
+audience.
+
+"You fool mule!  You fool mule!" bellowed Mr. Sparling.
+
+Jumbo suddenly decided that he would go back to the paddock.
+With him, to decide was to act.  Taking a fresh burst of speed,
+he shot straight at the red curtains.  To reach these he was
+obliged to pass close to the bandstand, where the band was
+playing as if the very existence of the show depended upon them.
+
+Teddy's grip was relaxing.  His arm was so benumbed that he could
+not feel that he had any arm on that side at all.
+
+His fingers slowly relaxed their grip on the cinch girth.  In a
+moment he had bounced back to the educated mule's rump.  In
+another instant he would be plumped to the hard ground with a
+jolt that would shake him to his foundations.
+
+But Jumbo had other plans--more spectacular plans--in mind.  He
+put them into execution at once.  The moment he felt his burden
+slipping over his back that active end grew busy again.  Jumbo
+humped himself, letting out a volley of kicks so lightning-like
+in their swiftness that human eye could not follow.
+
+Teddy had slipped half over the mule's rump when the volley
+began.
+
+"Catch him!  He'll be killed!" shouted someone.
+
+All at once the figure of Teddy Tucker shot straight up into the
+air, propelled there by the educated mule.  The lad's body
+described what somebody afterwards characterized as "graceful
+somersault in the air," then began its downward flight.
+
+He landed right in the midst of the band.
+
+Crash!
+
+There was a yell of warning, a jingle and clatter of brass,
+several chairs went down under the impact, the floor gave way and
+half the band, with Teddy Tucker in the middle of the heap, sank
+out of sight.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE RETURN TO THE SAWDUST LIFE
+
+"Is he dead?"
+
+"No; you can't kill a thick-head like that," snarled the
+ringmaster.
+
+The audience was still roaring.
+
+With angry imprecations the members of the band who had fallen
+through were untangling themselves as rapidly as possible. Teddy,
+in the meantime, had dragged himself from beneath the heap and
+slunk out from under the broken platform.  He lost no time in
+escaping to the paddock, but the bandmaster, espying him, started
+after the lad, waving his baton threateningly.
+
+No sooner had Teddy gained the seclusion of the dressing tent
+than James Sparling burst in.
+
+"Where's that boy?  Where's that boy?"
+
+"Here he is," grinned a performer, thrusting Teddy forward, much
+against the lad's inclinations.
+
+Mr. Sparling surveyed him with narrow eyes.
+
+"You young rascal!  Trying to break up my show, are you?"
+
+"N-no--sir."
+
+"Can you do that again, do you think?"
+
+"I--I don't know."
+
+"That's the greatest Rube mule act that ever hit a sawdust ring.
+I'll double your salary if you think you can get away with it
+every performance," fairly shouted the owner.
+
+"I--I'm willing if the mule is," stammered Teddy somewhat
+doubtfully.
+
+As a result the lad left his job in the cook tent, never to
+return to it.  After many hard knocks and some heavy falls he
+succeeded in so mastering the act that he was able to go through
+with it without great risk of serious injury to himself.  The
+educated mule and the boy became a feature of the Sparling
+Combined Shows from that moment on, but after that Teddy took
+good care not to round off his act by a high dive into the big
+bass horn.
+
+No one was more delighted at Teddy Tucker's sudden leap to fame
+than was his companion, Phil Forrest.  Phil and Dr. Irvine
+returned to the show, one afternoon, about a week after the
+accident.  They had come on by train.
+
+Phil, though somewhat pale after his setback, was clear-eyed, and
+declared himself as fit as ever.  He insisted upon going on with
+his act at the evening performance, but Mr. Sparling told him to
+wait until the day following.  In the meantime Phil could get his
+apparatus in working order.
+
+"I'll look it over myself this time," announced the showman. "I
+don't want any more such accidents happening in this show. Your
+friend Teddy nearly put the whole outfit to the bad--he and the
+fool mule."
+
+That afternoon Phil had an opportunity to witness for himself the
+exhibition of his companion and the "fool mule."  He laughed
+until his sides ached.
+
+"O Teddy, you'll break your neck doing that stunt one of these
+times," warned Phil, hastening back to the dressing tent after
+Teddy and the mule had left the ring.
+
+"Don't you think it's worth the risk?"
+
+"That depends."
+
+"For two dollars a day?"
+
+"Is that what you are getting?"
+
+"Yep.  I'm a high-priced performer," insisted Teddy, snapping his
+trousers pocket significantly.  "I'd jump off the big top, twice
+every day, for that figure."
+
+"What are you going to do with all your money?  Spend it?"
+
+"I--rather thought I'd buy a bicycle."
+
+Phil shook his head.
+
+"You couldn't carry it, and, besides, nobody rides bicycles these
+days.  They ride in automobiles."
+
+"Then I'll buy one of them."
+
+"I'll tell you what you do, Teddy."
+
+"Lend the money to you, eh?"
+
+"No; I am earning plenty for myself.  But every week, now, I
+shall send all my money home to Mrs. Cahill.  I wrote to her
+about it while I was sick.  She is going to put it in the bank
+for me at Edmeston, with herself appointed as trustee.  That's
+necessary, you see, because I am not of age.  Then no one can
+take it away from me."
+
+"You mean your Uncle Abner?" questioned Teddy.
+
+"Yes.  I don't know that he would want to; but I'm not taking any
+chances.  Now, why not send your money along at the same time?
+Mrs. Cahill will deposit it in the same way, and at the end of
+the season think what a lot of money you will have?"
+
+"Regular fortune?"
+
+"Yes, a regular fortune."
+
+"What'll I do with all that money?"
+
+"Do what I'm going to do--get an education."
+
+"What, and leave the show business?  No, siree!"
+
+"I didn't mean that.  You can go to school between seasons. I
+don't intend to leave the show business, but I'm going to know
+something besides that."
+
+"Well, I guess it would be a good idea," reflected Teddy.
+
+"Will you do it?"
+
+"Yes; I'll do it," he nodded.
+
+"Good for you!  We'll own a show of our own, one of these days.
+You mark me, Teddy," glowed Phil.
+
+"Of our own?" marveled Teddy, his face wreathing in smiles. "Say,
+wouldn't that be great?"
+
+"I think so.  Have you been practicing on the rings since I
+left?"
+
+"No."
+
+"That's too bad.  You and I will begin tomorrow.  We ought to be
+pretty expert on the flying rings in a few weeks, if I don't get
+hurt again," added the boy, a shadow flitting across his face.
+
+"Then, you'd better begin by taking some bends," suggested Mr.
+Miaco, who, approaching, had overheard Phil's remark.
+
+"Bends?" questioned Teddy
+
+"What are they?" wondered Phil.  "Oh, I know.  I read about them
+in the papers.  It's an attack that fellows working in a tunnel
+get when they're digging under a river.  I don't want anything
+like that."
+
+"No, no, no," replied Mr. Miaco in a tone of disgust.  "It's no
+disease at all."
+
+"No?"
+
+"What I mean by bends is exercises.  You have seen the performers
+do it--bend forward until their hands touch the ground, legs
+stiff, then tipping as far backwards as possible.  Those are
+bending exercises, and the best things to do.  The performers
+limber up for their act that way.  If you practice it slowly
+several times a day you will be surprised to see what it will do
+for you.  I'd begin today were I in your place, Phil.  You'll
+find yourself a little stiff when you go on in your elephant act
+tonight--"
+
+"I'm not going on tonight--not until tomorrow.  Mr. Sparling
+doesn't wish me to."
+
+"All right.  All the better.  Exercise!  I wouldn't begin on the
+rings today either.  Just take your bends, get steady on your
+feet and start in in a regular, systematic way tomorrow," advised
+the head clown.
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Miaco; I shall do so.  I am much obliged to you.
+You are very kind to us."
+
+"Because I like you, and because you boys don't pretend to know
+more about the circus business than men who have spent their
+lives in it."
+
+"I hope I shall never be like that," laughed Phil.  "I know I
+shall always be willing to learn."
+
+"And there always is something to learn in the circus life.  None
+of us knows it all.  There are new things coming up every day,"
+added the clown.
+
+Phil left the dressing tent to go around to the menagerie tent
+for a talk with Mr. Kennedy and Emperor.  Entering the tent the
+lad gave his whistle signal, whereat Emperor trumpeted loudly.
+
+The big elephant greeted his young friend with every evidence of
+joy and excitement.  Phil, of course, had brought Emperor a bag
+of peanuts as well as several lumps of sugar, and it was with
+difficulty that the lad got away from him after finishing his
+chat with Mr. Kennedy.
+
+Phil was making a round of calls that afternoon, so he decided
+that he would next visit Mr. Sparling, having seen him only a
+moment, and that while others were around.
+
+"May I come in?" he asked.
+
+"Yes; what do you want?"
+
+"To thank you for your kindness."
+
+"Didn't I tell you never to thank me for anything?" thundered the
+showman.
+
+"I beg your pardon, sir; I'll take it all back," twinkled Phil.
+
+"Oh, you will, will you, young scapegrace?  What did you come
+here for anyway?  Not to palaver about how thankful you are that
+you got knocked out, stayed a week in bed and had your salary
+paid all the time.  I'll bet you didn't come for that.  Want a
+raise of salary already?"
+
+"Hardly.  If you'll give me a chance, I'll tell you, Mr.
+Sparling."
+
+"Go on.  Say it quick."
+
+"I have been thinking about the fall I got, since I've been laid
+up."
+
+"Nothing else to think about, eh?"
+
+"And the more I think about it, the more it bothers me."
+
+"Does, eh?" grunted Mr. Sparling, busying himself with his
+papers.
+
+"Yes, sir.  I don't suppose it would be possible for me to get
+the broken wire now, would it?  No doubt it was thrown away."
+
+The showman peered up at the boy suspiciously.
+
+"What do you want of it?"
+
+"I thought I should like to examine it."
+
+"Why?"
+
+"To see what had been done to it."
+
+"Oh, you do, eh?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"What do you think happened to that wire?  It broke, didn't it?"
+
+"Yes, I guess there is no doubt about it but somebody helped to
+break it."
+
+"Young man, you are too confoundedly smart.  Mark my words,
+you'll die young.  Yes; I have the wire.  Here it is.  Look at
+it.  You are right; something happened to it, and I've been
+tearing myself to pieces, ever since, to find out who it was.
+I've got all my amateur sleuths working on the case, this very
+minute, to find out who the scoundrel is who cut the wire.  Have
+you any idea about it? But there's no use in asking you.  I--"
+
+"I've got this," answered Phil, tossing a small file on the table
+in front of Mr. Sparling.
+
+"What, what, what?  A file?"
+
+"Yes, will you see if it fits the notch in the wire there?"
+
+The showman did so, holding file and wire up to the light for a
+better examination of them.
+
+"There can be no doubt of it," answered the amazed showman,
+fixing wondering eyes on the young man.  "Where did you get it?"
+
+"Picked it up."
+
+"Where?"
+
+"In the dressing tent."
+
+"Pooh!  Then it doesn't mean anything," grunted Mr. Sparling.
+
+"If you knew where I picked it up you might think differently."
+
+"Then where _did_ you get it?"
+
+"Found it in my own trunk."
+
+"In your trunk?"
+
+Phil nodded.
+
+"How did it get there?"
+
+"I had left my trunk open after placing some things in it.  When
+I went out to watch Teddy's mule act I was in such a hurry that I
+forgot all about the trunk.  When I came back, there it lay, near
+the end--"
+
+"Somebody put it there!" exploded the showman.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"But who?  Find that out for me--let me know who the man is and
+you'll hear an explosion in this outfit that will raise the big
+top right off the ground."
+
+"Leave it to me, Mr. Sparling, I'll find him."
+
+The owner laughed harshly.
+
+"How?"
+
+"I think I know who the man is at this very minute," was Phil
+Forrest's startling announcement, uttered in a quiet, even tone.
+
+Mr. Sparling leaped from his chair so suddenly that he overturned
+the table in front of him, sending his papers flying all over the
+place.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+AN ELEPHANT IN JAIL
+
+"Who is he?"
+
+"I would not care to answer that question just now, Mr.
+Sparling," answered Phil calmly.  "It would not be right--that
+is, not until I am sure about it."
+
+"Tell me, or get out."
+
+"Remember, Mr. Sparling, it is a serious accusation you ask me to
+make against a man on proof that you would say was not worth
+anything. It may take some time, but before I get through I'm
+going either to fasten the act on someone--on a particular
+one--or else prove that I am wholly mistaken."
+
+The showman stormed, but Phil was obdurate.  He refused to give
+the slightest intimation as to whom he suspected.
+
+"Am I to go, Mr. Sparling?" he asked after the interview had come
+to an end.
+
+"No!  I expect you'll own this show yet."
+
+He watched Phil walking away from the tent.  There was a scowl on
+the face of James Sparling.
+
+"If I thought that young rascal really thought he knew, I'd take
+him across my knee and spank him until he told me.  No; he's more
+of a man than any two in the whole outfit.  I'd rather lose a
+horse than have anything happen to that lad."
+
+Days followed each other in quick succession.  The show had by
+this time swung around into Pennsylvania, and was playing a
+circuit of small mining towns with exceptionally good attendance.
+The owner of the show was in high good humor over the profits the
+show was earning.  The acts of Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker had
+proved to be among the best drawing cards in the circus
+performance proper.  So important did the owner consider them
+that the names of the two circus boys were now prominently
+displayed in the advertisements, as well as on the billboards.
+
+During all this time, Phil and Teddy had worked faithfully on the
+rings under the instruction of Mr. Miaco.  On the side they were
+taking lessons in tumbling as well.  For this purpose what is
+known as a "mechanic" was used to assist them in their schooling.
+This consisted of a belt placed about the beginner's waist. >From
+it a rope led up over a pulley, the other end of the rope being
+securely held by someone.
+
+When all was ready the pupil would take a running start, jump
+into the air and try to turn.  At the same time, the man holding
+the free end of the rope would give it a hard pull, thus jerking
+the boy free of the ground and preventing his falling on his
+head.
+
+After a few days of this, both boys had progressed so far that
+they were able to work on a mat, made up of several layers of
+thick carpet, without the aid of the "mechanic."  Of course their
+act lacked finish.  Their movements were more or less clumsy, but
+they had mastered the principle of the somersault in remarkably
+quick time.
+
+Mr. Miaco said that in two more weeks they ought to be able to
+join the performers in their general tumbling act, which was one
+of the features of the show.
+
+There was not an hour of the day that found the two boys idle,
+now, and all this activity was viewed by Mr. Sparling with an
+approving eye.
+
+But one day there came an interruption that turned the thoughts
+of the big show family in another direction.
+
+An accident had happened at the morning parade that promised
+trouble for the show.  A countryman, who had heard that the hide
+of an elephant could not be punctured, was struck by the happy
+thought of finding out for himself the truth or falsity of this
+theory.  He had had an argument with some of his friends, he
+taking the ground that an elephant's hide was no different from
+the hide of any other animal.  And he promised to show them that
+it was not.
+
+All he needed was the opportunity.  With his friends he had
+followed along with the parade, keeping abreast of the elephants,
+until finally the parade was halted by the crossing gates at a
+railroad.
+
+Now was the man's chance to prove the theory false.  The crowd
+closed in on the parade to get a closer view of the people, and
+this acted as a cover for the man's experiment.
+
+Taking his penknife out he placed the point of it against the
+side of Emperor, as it chanced.
+
+"Now watch me," he said, at the same time giving the knife a
+quick shove, intending merely to see if he could prick through
+the skin. His experiment succeeded beyond the fellow's fondest
+expectations. The point of the knife had gone clear through
+Emperor's hide.
+
+Emperor, ordinarily possessed of a keen sense of humor, coupled
+with great good nature, in this instance failed to see the humor
+of the proceeding.  In fact, he objected promptly and in a most
+surprising manner.
+
+Like a flash, his trunk curled back.  It caught the bold
+experimenter about the waist, and the next instant the fellow was
+dangling in the air over Emperor's head, yelling lustily for
+help.  The elephant had been watching the man, apparently
+suspecting something, and therefore was ready for him.
+
+"Put him down!" thundered Kennedy.
+
+The elephant obeyed, but in a manner not intended by the trainer
+when he gave the command.
+
+With a quick sweep of his trunk, Emperor hurled his tormentor
+from him. The man's body did not stop until it struck a large
+plate glass window in a store front, disappearing into the store
+amid a terrific crashing of glass and breaking of woodwork, the
+man having carried most of the window with him in his sudden
+entry into the store.
+
+This was a feature of the parade that had not been advertised on
+the bills.
+
+The procession moved on a moment later, with old Emperor swinging
+along as meekly as if he had not just stirred up a heap of
+trouble for himself and his owner.
+
+The man, it was soon learned, had been badly hurt.
+
+But Mr. Sparling was on the ground almost at once, making an
+investigation.  He quickly learned what had caused the trouble.
+And then he was mad all through.  He raved up and down the line
+threatening to get out a warrant for the arrest of the man who
+had stuck a knife into his elephant.
+
+Later in the afternoon matters took a different turn.  A lawyer
+called on the showman, demanding the payment of ten thousand
+dollars damages for the injuries sustained by his client, and
+which, he said, would in all probability make the man a cripple
+for life.
+
+If the showman had been angry before, he was in a towering rage
+now.
+
+"Get off this lot!" he roared.  "If you show your face here again
+I'll set the canvasmen on you!  Then you won't be able to leave
+without help."
+
+The lawyer stood not upon the order of his going, and they saw no
+more of him.  They had about concluded that they had heard the
+last of his demands, until just before the evening performance,
+when, as the cook tent was being struck, half a dozen deputy
+sheriffs suddenly made their appearance.
+
+They held papers permitting them to levy on anything they could
+lay their hands upon and hold it until full damages had been
+fixed by the courts.
+
+There was no trifling with the law, at least not then, and Mr.
+Sparling was shrewd enough to see that.  However, he stormed and
+threatened, but all to no purpose.
+
+The intelligent deputies reasoned that Emperor, having been the
+cause of all the trouble, would be the proper chattel to levy
+upon. So they levied on him.
+
+The next thing was to get Emperor to jail.  He would not budge an
+inch when the officers sought to take him.  Then a happy thought
+struck them.  They ordered the trainer to lead the elephant and
+follow them under pain of instant arrest if he refused.
+
+There was nothing for it but to obey.  Protesting loudly, Kennedy
+started for the village with his great, hulking charge.
+
+Phil Forrest was as disconsolate as his employer was enraged. The
+boy's act was spoiled, perhaps indefinitely, which might mean the
+loss of part of his salary.
+
+"That's country justice," growled the owner.  "But I'll telegraph
+my lawyer in the city and have him here by morning.  Maybe it
+won't be such a bad speculation tomorrow, for I'll make this town
+go broke before it has fully settled the damages I'll get out of
+it.  Don't be down in the mouth, Forrest.  You'll have your
+elephant back, and before many days at that.  Go watch the show
+and forget your troubles."
+
+It will be observed that, under his apparently excitable
+exterior, Mr. James Sparling was a philosopher.
+
+"Emperor's in jail," mourned Phil.
+
+The moment Mr. Kennedy returned, sullen and uncommunicative, Phil
+sought him out.  He found the trainer in Mr. Sparling's tent.
+
+"Where did they take him?" demanded Phil, breaking in on their
+conversation.
+
+"To jail," answered Kennedy grimly.  "First time I ever heard of
+such a thing as an elephant's going to jail."
+
+"That's the idea.  We'll use that for an advertisement," cried
+the ever alert showman, slapping his thighs.  "Emperor, the
+performing elephant of the Great Sparling Combined Shows, jailed
+for assault. Fine, fine!  How'll that look in the newspapers?
+Why, men, it will fill the tent when we get to the next stand,
+whether we have the elephant or not."
+
+"No; you've got to have the elephant," contended Kennedy.
+
+"Well, perhaps that's so.  But I'll wire our man ahead, just the
+same, and let him use the fact in his press notices."
+
+"But how could they get him in the jail?" questioned Phil.
+
+"Jail?  You see, they couldn't.  They wanted to, but the jail
+wouldn't fit, or the elephant wouldn't fit the jail, either way
+you please.  When they discovered that they didn't know what to
+do with him.  Somebody suggested that they might lock him up in
+the blacksmith shop."
+
+"The blacksmith shop?" exploded the owner.
+
+"I hope they don't try to fit him with shoes," he added, with a
+grim smile.
+
+"Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they did.  We'd have our
+elephant right quick.  Yes, they tried the blacksmith shop on,
+and it worked, but it was a close fit.  If Emperor had had a bump
+on his back as big as an egg he wouldn't have gone in."
+
+"And he's there now?"
+
+"Yes.  I reckon I'd better stay here and camp at the hotel,
+hadn't I, so's to be handy when your lawyer comes on?  Emperor
+might tear up the town if he got loose."
+
+Mr. Sparling reflected for a moment.
+
+"Kennedy, you'll go with the show tonight.  I don't care if
+Emperor tears this town up by the roots.  If none of us is here,
+then we shall not be to blame for what happens.  We didn't tell
+them to lock him up in the blacksmith shop.  You can get back
+after the lawyer has gotten him out.  That will be time enough."
+
+"Where is the blacksmith shop?" questioned Phil.
+
+"Know where the graveyard is?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"It's just the other side of that," said Kennedy.  "Church on
+this side, blacksmith shop on the other.  Why?"
+
+"Oh, nothing.  I was just wondering," answered Phil, glancing up
+and finding the eyes of Mr. Sparling bent keenly upon him.
+
+The lad rose hastily, went out, and climbing up to the seat of a
+long pole wagon, sat down to ponder over the situation. He
+remained there until a teamster came to hook to the wagon and
+drive it over to be loaded.  Then Phil got down, standing about
+with hands in his pockets.
+
+He was trying to make up his mind about something.
+
+"Where do we show tomorrow?" he asked of an employee.
+
+"Dobbsville, Ohio.  We'll be over the line before daybreak."
+
+"Oh."
+
+The circus tent was rapidly disappearing now.  "In another state
+in the morning," mused Phil.
+
+One by one the wagons began moving from the circus lot.
+
+"Get aboard the sleeping car," called the driver of the wagon
+that Phil and Teddy usually slept in, as he drove past.
+
+"Hey, Phil!" called Teddy, suddenly appearing above the top of
+the box.
+
+"Hello, Teddy!"
+
+"What are you standing there for?"
+
+"Perhaps I'm getting the night air," laughed Phil.  "Fine, isn't
+it?"
+
+"It might be better.  But get in; get in.  You'll be left."
+
+"Never mind me.  I am not going on your wagon tonight.  You may
+have the bed all to yourself.  Don't forget to leave your window
+open," he jeered.
+
+"I have it open already.  I'm going to put the screen in now to
+keep the mosquitoes out," retorted Teddy, not to be outdone.
+
+"Has Mr. Sparling gone yet do you know?"
+
+"No; he and Kennedy are over yonder where the front door was,
+talking."
+
+"All right."
+
+Teddy's head disappeared.  No sooner had it done so than Phil
+Forrest turned and ran swiftly toward the opposite side of the
+lot. He ran in a crouching position, as if to avoid being seen.
+
+Reaching a fence which separated the road from the field, he
+threw himself down in the tall grass there and hid.
+
+"In Ohio tomorrow.  I'm going to try it," he muttered.  "It can't
+be wrong.  They had no business, no right to do it," he decided,
+his voice full of indignation.
+
+He heard the wagons rumbling by him on the hard road, the rattle
+of wheels accompanied by the shouts of the drivers as they urged
+their horses on.
+
+And there Phil lay hidden until every wagon had departed, headed
+for the border, and the circus lot became a barren, deserted and
+silent field.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+EMPEROR ANSWERS THE SIGNAL
+
+Making sure that everybody had left, Phil Forrest ran swiftly
+toward the village.  He knew the way, having been downtown during
+the day.
+
+A light twinkled here and there in a house, where the people, no
+doubt, were discussing the exciting events of the day.  As Phil
+drew near the cemetery he heard voices.
+
+It would not do to be discovered, so the lad climbed the fence
+and crept along the edge of the open plot.  He was nearing the
+blacksmith shop and it was soon apparent to him that quite a
+number of men had gathered in front of the shop itself.
+
+Skulking up to the corner, the last rod being traversed on all
+fours, the circus boy flattened himself on the ground to listen,
+in an effort to learn if possible what were the plans of the
+villagers.  If they had any he did not learn them, for their
+conversation was devoted principally to discussing what they had
+done to the Sparling show and what they would do further before
+they had finished with this business.
+
+Phil did learn, however, that the man who had been hurled through
+the store window was not fatally injured, as had been thought at
+first.  Someone announced that the doctor had said the man would
+be about again in a couple of weeks.
+
+"I'm glad of that," muttered Phil.  "I shouldn't like to think
+that Emperor had killed anyone.  I wonder how he likes it in
+there."
+
+Evidently the elephant was not well pleased, for the lad could
+hear him stirring restlessly and tugging at his chains.
+
+"Won't he be surprised, though?" chuckled Phil.  "I shouldn't be
+surprised if he made a lot of noise.  I hope he doesn't, for I
+don't want to stir the town up.  I wonder if those fellows are
+going to stay there all night?"
+
+The loungers showed no inclination to move, so there was nothing
+for the boy to do but to lie still and wait.
+
+After a little he began to feel chilled, and began hopping around
+on hands and feet to start his blood moving.  A little of this
+warmed him up considerably.  This time he sat down in the fence
+corner.  The night was moonless, but the stars were quite bright,
+enabling Phil to make out objects some distance away. He could
+see quite plainly the men gathered in front of the blacksmith
+shop.
+
+After a wait of what seemed hours to Phil, one of the watchers
+stirred himself.
+
+"Well, fellows, we might as well go home.  The brute's settled
+down for the night, I reckon."
+
+"What time is it?"
+
+"Half past two," announced the first speaker.
+
+"Well, well, I should say it was time to go.  Not going to stay
+with him, are you, sheriff?"
+
+"Not necessary.  He can't get out."
+
+After listening at the closed door, the one whom Phil judged to
+be an officer joined his companions and all walked leisurely down
+the road.
+
+The lad remained in the fence corner for sometime, but he stood
+up after they had gone.  He did not dare move about much, fearing
+that Emperor might hear and know him and raise a great tumult.
+
+Phil waited all of half an hour; then he climbed the fence and
+slipped cautiously to the door of the shop.
+
+It was securely locked.
+
+"Oh, pshaw!  That's too bad," grumbled the lad.  "How am I going
+to do it?"
+
+Phil ran his fingers lightly over the fastening, which consisted
+of a strong hasp and a padlock.
+
+"What shall I do?  I dare not try to break the lock.  I should be
+committing a crime if I did.  Perhaps I am already.  No; I'm not,
+and I shall not.  I'll just speak to Emperor, then start off on
+foot after the show.  It was foolish of me to think I could do
+anything to help Mr. Sparling and the elephant out of his
+trouble. I ought to be able to walk to the next stand and get
+there in time for the last breakfast call, providing I can find
+the way."
+
+Perhaps Phil's conscience troubled him a little, though he had
+done nothing worse than to follow the dictates of his kind heart
+in his desire to be of assistance to his employer and to befriend
+old Emperor.
+
+Placing his lips close to the door, Phil called softly.
+
+"Emperor!" he said.
+
+The restless swaying and heavy breathing within ceased suddenly.
+
+"Emperor!" repeated the lad, at the same time uttering the low
+whistle that the big elephant had come to know so well.
+
+A mighty cough from the interior of the blacksmith shop answered
+Phil Forrest's signal.
+
+"Be quiet, Emperor.  Be quiet!  We are going to get you out as
+soon as we can, old fellow!  You just behave yourself now.  Do
+you hear?"
+
+Emperor emitted another loud cough.
+
+"Good old Emperor.  I've got some peanuts for you, but I don't
+know how I am going to give them to you.  Wait a minute.  Perhaps
+there is a window somewhere that I can toss them through."
+
+Phil, after looking around, found a window with the small panes
+of glass missing.  The window was so high that he could not reach
+it, so he stood on the ground and tossed the peanuts in, while
+the big elephant demonstrated the satisfaction he felt, in a
+series of sharp intakes of breath.
+
+"Now I'm going," announced Phil.  "Goodbye, Emperor.  Here's a
+lump of sugar.  That's all I have for you."
+
+Phil turned away sorrowfully.  His purpose had failed. Not
+because he doubted his ability to carry it out, but he was not
+sure that he would be right in doing so.
+
+A few rods down the road he paused, turned and uttered his shrill
+signal whistle, with no other idea in mind than to bring some
+comfort to the imprisoned beast.
+
+Emperor interpreted the signal otherwise, however.  He uttered a
+loud, shrill trumpet; then things began to happen with a rapidity
+that fairly made the circus boy's head whirl.
+
+A sudden jingle of metal, a crashing and rending from within the
+shop, caused Phil to halt sharply after he had once more started
+on his way.
+
+Crash!  Bang!
+
+Emperor had brought his wonderful strength to bear on his
+flimsily constructed prison with disastrous results to the
+latter. First he had torn the blacksmith's bellows out by the
+roots and hurled it from him.  Next he set to work to smash
+everything within reach.  A moment of this and the elephant had
+freed himself from the light chains with which the keeper had
+secured him.
+
+"Wha--oh, what is he doing?" gasped Phil Forrest.
+
+The boards on one side of the shop burst out as from a sudden
+explosion.  Down came half a dozen of the light studdings that
+supported the roof on that side.
+
+By this time Emperor had worked himself into a fine temper. He
+turned his attention to the other side of the shop with similar
+disastrous results.  The interior of the blacksmith shop was a
+wreck.  It could not have been in much worse condition had it
+been struck by a cyclone.
+
+All of a sudden the elephant threw his whole weight against the
+big sliding door.  It burst out with a report like that of a
+cannon.
+
+Emperor came staggering out into the open.  There he paused, with
+twitching ears and curling trunk, peering into the darkness in
+search of Phil Forrest.
+
+Phil recovered from his surprise sufficiently to realize what had
+happened and that old Emperor was free once more.
+
+The lad uttered a shrill whistle.  Emperor responded by a
+piercing scream.  He then whirled, facing up the road in Phil's
+direction, though unable to see the lad.
+
+Once more the boy whistled.  Emperor was off in a twinkling.
+
+"Steady, steady, Emperor!" cautioned the lad, as he saw the huge
+hulk bearing swiftly down on him.  "Easy, old boy!"
+
+But the elephant did not lessen his speed one particle.  Phil
+felt sure, however, that he himself would not be harmed.  He knew
+Emperor too well.  With perfect confidence in the great animal,
+the lad threw both hands above his head, standing motionless in
+the center of the street right in the path of the oncoming beast.
+
+"Steady, steady, steady!" cautioned Phil.  "Now up, Emperor!"
+
+The elephant's long, sinuous trunk uncurled, coiled about the
+lad's waist and the next instant Phil felt himself being lifted
+to the big beast's head.
+
+"I've got him!" shouted Phil, carried away by the excitement of
+the moment.  "Now, go it!  Emperor!  Go faster than you ever have
+since you chased lions in the jungle."
+
+And Emperor did go it!  As he tore down the village street he
+woke the echoes with his shrill trumpetings, bringing every man
+and woman in the little village tumbling from their beds.
+
+"The elephant is escaping!" cried the people, as they threw up
+their windows and gazed out.  As they looked they saw a huge,
+shadowy shape hurling itself down the street, whereat they
+hastily withdrew their heads.  In a few moments the men of the
+village came rushing out, all running toward the blacksmith shop
+to learn what had happened there.  There followed a perfect
+pandemonium of yells when they discovered the wrecked condition
+of the place.
+
+In the meantime Phil had guided Emperor into the road that led to
+the show grounds of the previous day.  The elephant was about to
+turn into the lot, when a sharp slap from his rider caused him to
+swing back into the highway on the trail of the wagons that had
+passed on some hours before.
+
+Once he had fairly started Emperor followed the trail, making the
+turns and following the twists of the road as unerringly as an
+Indian follows the trail of his enemy.
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Phil, after they had got clear of the village.
+"I've won, I've won!  But, oh, won't there be a row back there
+when they find out what has happened, I wonder if they will
+follow us."
+
+The thought startled him.
+
+"If they do they are liable to arrest me, believing that I let
+him out.  _Go it,_ Emperor!  Go faster!"
+
+Emperor flapped his ears in reply and swung off at an increased
+gait. The darkness of early morn was soon succeeded by the
+graying dawn, and Phil felt a certain sense of relief as he
+realized that day was breaking.  On they swept, past hamlets, by
+farm houses, where here and there men with milkpails in hand
+paused, startled, to rub their eyes and gaze upon the strange
+outfit that was rushing past them at such a pace.
+
+Phil could not repress a chuckle at such times, at thought of the
+sensation he was creating.
+
+The hours drew on until seven o'clock had arrived, and the sun
+was high in the heavens.
+
+"I must be getting near the place," decided Phil.  He knew he was
+on the right road, for he could plainly see the trail of the
+wagons and of the stock in the dust of the road before him.
+"Yes; there is some sort of a village way off yonder.  I wonder
+if that is it?"
+
+A fluttering flag from the top of a far away center-pole, which
+he caught sight of a few minutes later, told the boy that it was.
+
+"Hurrah!" shouted Phil, waving his hat on high.
+
+At that moment a distant chorus of yells smote his ears.  The lad
+listened intently.  The shout was repeated.  Holding fast to the
+headstall, he glanced back over the road.  There, far to his
+rear, he discovered a cloud of dust, which a few minutes later
+resolved itself into a party of horsemen, riding at top speed.
+
+"They're after me!  Go faster!  Go faster!" shouted the lad. As
+he spoke a rifle cracked somewhere behind him, but as Phil heard
+no bullet the leaden missile must have fallen far short of the
+mark.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+THE MYSTERY SOLVED
+
+As he neared the village Phil began to shout and wave his hat.
+After a time his shouts attracted the attention of some of the
+people on the circus lot, which was on his side of the village.
+
+"It's Emperor coming back!" cried someone.  "There's somebody on
+him," added another.
+
+"I'll bet the day's receipts that it's that rascally Phil
+Forrest," exclaimed Mr. Sparling, examining the cloud of dust
+with shaded eyes. "How in the world did it ever happen?  I've
+been hunting all over the outfit for that boy this morning.
+Young Tucker said he thought Phil had remained behind, and I was
+afraid something had happened to the boy or that he had skipped
+the show.  I might have known better. What's that back of him?"
+
+"Somebody chasing them, boss," a tentman informed him.
+
+"And they're going to catch old Emperor sure."
+
+"Not if I know it," snapped Mr. Sparling.  _"Hey, Rube!"_ he
+howled.
+
+Canvasmen, roustabouts, performers and everybody within reach of
+his voice swarmed out into the open, armed with clubs, stones and
+anything they could lay their hands upon.
+
+"There's a posse trying to catch Phil Forrest and old Emperor.
+Get a going!  Head them off and drive them back!"
+
+Every man started on a run, some leaping on horses, clearing the
+circus lot, riding like so many cowboys.  As they approached the
+lad perched on the bobbing head of the elephant the showmen set
+up a chorus of wild yells, to which Phil responded by waving his
+hat. He tried to stand up on Emperor's head, narrowly missing a
+tumble, which he surely would have taken had not the elephant
+given him quick support with the ever-handy trunk.
+
+"They're shooting at me," cried Phil, as he swept by the showmen.
+
+"Line up!" commanded Mr. Sparling.
+
+His men stretched across the highway, with the mounted ones in
+front, his infantry behind.  Soon the horsemen of the pursuing
+party came dashing up and brought their horses to a sudden stop.
+
+"What do you want?"
+
+"We demand the turning over of the elephant which one of your men
+stole from us.  They've wrecked the blacksmith shop and there'll
+be a pretty bill of damages to pay!  Come now, before we take you
+back with us."
+
+Mr. Sparling grinned.
+
+"Perhaps you don't know that you are in the State of Ohio at the
+present moment, eh?  If you'll take my advice you'll turn about
+and get home as fast as horseflesh will carry you.  My lawyer
+will be in your town today, and he will arrange for the payment
+of all just damages.  We decline to be robbed, however.  We've
+got the elephant and we're going to keep him."
+
+"And we're going to have the boy that broke in and released him."
+
+"Ho, ho, ho!" laughed Mr. Sparling jovially.  "I guess you'll
+have the liveliest scrimmage you ever had in all your lives if
+you attempt to lay hands on that boy.  Come, now, get out of
+here! If you attempt to raise the slightest disturbance I'll have
+the bunch of you in the cooler, and we'll be the boys to put you
+there if the town officials don't act quickly enough."
+
+"Boys, I guess it's up to us," decided the leader of the party.
+
+"Looks that way."
+
+"Then what do you say if we stop and see the show?"
+
+"Good idea!"
+
+"I don't care how many of you go to the show; but, mark me, it
+will cost you fifty cents a head, and at the first sign of
+disturbance you'll see the biggest bunch of trouble headed your
+way!"
+
+"It's all right, Mr. Sparling.  We admit we've been done."
+
+And that was the end of it.  Mr. Sparling's lawyer visited the
+town where the disturbance had occurred on the previous day, and
+at his client's direction made a settlement that should have been
+wholly satisfactory to the injured parties.  Ordinarily the
+showman would not have settled the case, in view of the fact that
+neither he nor any of his employees was directly responsible for
+the series of disasters.  He did it almost wholly on account of
+Phil Forrest, who had asked him to.
+
+"Well, young man, I've paid the bills," announced Mr. Sparling
+that afternoon before the evening performance.
+
+"Thank you," glowed Phil.
+
+"Stop that!  If there's any thanks in it, they're coming to you.
+Between you and the elephant we'll have another turn-away today.
+You have already put a good bit of money in my pocket, and I'm
+not forgetting it.  I have made definite arrangements for you and
+your chum to have a berth in a closed wagon after this.  You will
+be good enough to offer no objections this time.  What I say
+goes."
+
+"I hope I did not do anything wrong in taking Emperor away. I'm
+afraid my conscience has troubled me ever since.  But I didn't
+intend to do anything wrong or to cause any further damage than
+already had been done."
+
+"You did perfectly right, Forrest.  That was a stroke of genius.
+As for damage, I tell you I have settled all of that.  One of
+these days you come in when I'm not busy and we'll talk about
+next season.  I want you to stay with me."
+
+Phil left his employer, the lad's face flushed and his eyes
+sparkling. Altogether, he was a very happy boy.  The only real
+cloud that had darkened his horizon was that anyone should feel
+such an enmity toward him as to desire to take his life; or, at
+least, to cause him so serious an injury as to put an end to the
+career that now seemed so promising.
+
+"I know why, of course," mused the lad.  "It was jealousy.  I am
+more sure than ever as to the identity of the man who did it.
+When I get a good opportunity I am going to face him with it. I'm
+not afraid of the man.  As it is, he might try it again; but if
+he understands that I know he will not dare try it, fearing I may
+have told someone else."
+
+Having come to this wise conclusion, Phil proceeded to the big
+top, where he and Teddy Tucker were to take their afternoon
+practice on the flying rings, pausing on the way to pass a
+handful of peanuts to Emperor, who was again in his place, and
+give the elephant's trainer a happy nod.
+
+"I've noticed of late that Signor Navaro acts rather grouchy over
+you boys working on his apparatus.  You want to look out for
+these foreigners.  Some of them are revengeful," cautioned Mr.
+Miaco.
+
+Signor Navaro was the leading performer in the flying-rings act.
+With him was his young son, Rodney Palmer and a young girl
+performer, whose father was a clown in the show.
+
+Phil shot a sharp glance at Mr. Miaco, then dropped his eyes.
+
+"I guess nobody would be jealous of me," laughed the lad. "I'm
+only a beginner, and a clumsy one at that.  All I can do is to
+ride an elephant and fall off, nearly killing myself."
+
+"Nevertheless, you take my advice."
+
+"I will, thank you."
+
+The boys began their work after putting on their working clothes,
+consisting of old silk undershirts and linen trunks.  This left
+them free for the full play of their muscles, which, by this
+time, were of exceptionally fine quality.  Not big and bunchy,
+but like thin bands of pliable steel.  Both Phil and Teddy
+appeared to have grown half a head taller since they joined out
+with the circus.
+
+"Put a little more finish in that cutoff movement," directed
+their instructor.  "The way you do it, Teddy, you remind me of a
+man trying to kick out a window.  There, that's better."
+
+And so it went on.  Days came and went and the steady practice of
+the two circus boys continued, but if Mr. Sparling knew what they
+were doing he made no reference to it.  He probably did know, for
+little went on in the Sparling Combined Shows that he was not
+aware of.
+
+Nothing out of the routine occurred, until, late in the season,
+they pitched their tents in Canton, Ohio, when something happened
+that brought to a climax the certainty of the careers of the
+circus boys.
+
+All day long the clouds had been threatening.  But, though keen
+eyes were watching the scudding clouds, no apprehension was felt,
+as it was believed to be but a passing thunderstorm that was
+coming up.
+
+The storm did not break until late in the afternoon when the show
+was more than half over.  Phil had made his grand entry on
+Emperor, and Teddy had nearly sent the spectators into hysterics
+by his funny antics on the back of Jumbo, the educated mule.
+
+All at once the circus men glanced aloft as the shrill whistle of
+the boss canvasman trilled somewhere outside the big top. The
+audience, if they heard, gave no heed.  They were too much
+interested in the show.
+
+To the showmen the whistle meant that the emergency gang was
+being summoned in haste to stake down emergency ropes to protect
+the tent from a windstorm that was coming up.
+
+Phil took a quick survey of the upper part of the tent.  Two acts
+were just beginning up there.  A trapeze act was on, and the four
+performers were swinging out on the flying rings.
+
+Both sets of performers were in rather perilous positions were
+the wind to blow very hard, as Phil well understood.  He stepped
+off until he found a quarter pole at his back against which he
+leaned that he might watch the better the lofty performers.
+
+All at once there was a blast against the big top that sounded as
+if a great blow had been delivered.  The audience half rose. The
+tent shook from end to end.
+
+"Sit down!" bellowed the ringmaster.  "It's only a puff of wind."
+
+Before the words were out of his mouth a piercing scream roused
+the audience almost to the verge of panic.
+
+Phil, whose attention had been drawn to the people for the
+moment, shot a swift glance up into the somber haze of the peak
+of the big top.
+
+Something had happened.  But what?
+
+"They're falling!" he gasped.
+
+The blow had loosened nearly every bit of the aerial apparatus
+under the circus tent.
+
+"There go the trapeze performers!"
+
+Down they came, landing with a whack in the net with their
+apparatus tumbling after them.  But they were out of the net in a
+twinkling, none the worse for their accident.  Almost at the same
+moment there were other screams.
+
+"There go the rings!"
+
+There was no net under the flying ring performers.  Two of them
+shot toward the ground.  When they struck, one was on top of the
+other.  The man at the bottom was Signor Navaro, his son having
+fallen prone across him.  The two other performers in the act had
+grabbed a rope and saved themselves.
+
+Men picked the two fallen performers up hastily and bore them to
+the dressing tent, where Phil hastened the moment he was sure
+that all danger of a panic had passed.  The gust of wind had
+driven the clouds away and the sun flashed out brilliantly.
+
+A moment later the performance was going on with a rush, the band
+playing a lively tune.
+
+Phil, when he reached the dressing tent, learned that Signor
+Navaro was seriously hurt, though his son was suffering merely
+from shock.  The father had sustained several broken bones.
+
+Phil approached the injured performer and leaned over him. The
+man was conscious.
+
+"I'm sorry, very sorry, sir," breathed the boy sympathetically.
+
+"You needn't be.  You'll get what you want," murmured the circus
+man.
+
+"I don't understand," wondered Phil.
+
+"You'll get my act."
+
+"Is that what you think I have been working for?"
+
+Signor Navaro nodded.
+
+"You are mistaken.  Of course, if you are not able to perform any
+more this season I shall try to get it, but when you are able to
+go to work I shall give it up willingly, even if I succeed in
+getting it during that time.  Is that why you played that trick
+on me?" demanded the lad.
+
+"You know?" questioned Signor Navaro, with a start.
+
+Phil gave a slight nod.
+
+"Why did you put the file in my trunk--the file you cut the wire
+with?"
+
+"I thought I dropped it in my own trunk.  Somebody surprised me
+and I was afraid they would catch me with it in my hand and
+suspect."
+
+"That's what I thought."
+
+"You are sharp.  And you told no one?"
+
+"No.  But I had made up my mind to tell you.  I didn't think it
+would have to be this way, though.  I'm sorry it is."
+
+"Well, I have my punishment.  It served me right.  I was crazed
+with jealousy.  I--how is the boy?"
+
+"Not badly hurt, I believe.  He will be all right in a few days,
+and I hope you will be able to join out in a short time."
+
+Signor Navaro extended a feeble hand, which Phil pressed softly.
+
+"Forgive me, boy.  Will you?"
+
+"Yes," whispered Phil.
+
+"And you will tell no--"
+
+"There is nothing to tell, Signor Navaro.  If there is anything I
+can do for you, tell me, and I shall have great happiness in
+doing it," breathed the lad.
+
+A final grip of the hands of the boy and the injured performer
+followed, after which Phil Forrest stepped back to make way for
+the surgeon, who had hurried to a wagon to fetch his case.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+"You see, an accident always casts a cloud over a show and makes
+the performers uncertain," said Mr. Miaco that night as he and
+Phil were watching the performance from the end of the band
+platform.
+
+"I should think it would," mused the boy.
+
+Soon after that Phil went to his wagon and turned in, his mind
+still on Signor Navaro, who had been taken to a hospital, where
+he was destined to remain for many weeks.
+
+"I guess it doesn't pay, in the long run, to be dishonorable,"
+mused the lad as he was dropping off to sleep.
+
+The next morning Phil was up bright and early, very much
+refreshed after a good night's rest between his blankets in the
+comfortable sleeping wagon.  Teddy, however, declared that he
+didn't like it. He said he preferred to sleep on a pile of canvas
+in the open air, even if he did get wet once in a while.
+
+Later in the morning, after Mr. Sparling had had time to dispose
+of his usual rush of morning business, which consisted of hearing
+reports from his heads of departments, and giving his orders for
+the day, Phil sought out his employer in the little dog tent.
+
+"I'm very sorry about the accident, Mr. Sparling," greeted Phil.
+
+"Yes; it ties up one act.  It will be some days before I can get
+another team in to take it up, and here we are just beginning to
+play the big towns.  I have been trying to figure out if there
+was not someone in the show who could double in that act and get
+away with it," mused the showman.  "How'd you sleep?"
+
+"Fine.  Is there no one you can think of who could fill the bill,
+Mr. Sparling?"
+
+"No; that's the rub.  You know of anyone?"
+
+"How about myself."
+
+"What?"
+
+Mr. Sparling surveyed the lad in surprised inquiry.
+
+"I think I can make a pretty fair showing on the rings.  Of
+course, if Signor Navaro gets well and comes back, I shall be
+glad to give the act back to him.  I know something about the
+flying rings."
+
+"Young man, is there anything in this show that you can't do?"
+demanded Mr. Sparling, with an attempt at sternness.
+
+"A great many things, sir.  Then, again, there are some others
+that I have confidence enough in myself to believe I can do.  You
+see, I have been practicing on the rings ever since I joined
+out."
+
+"But you are only one.  We shall need two performers," objected
+the owner.
+
+"Teddy Tucker has been working with me.  He is fully as good on
+the flying rings as I am, if not better."
+
+"H-m-m-m!" mused the showman.  "Come over to the big top and
+let's see what you really can do," he said, starting up.
+
+Phil ran in search of Teddy and in a few minutes the two boys
+appeared in the arena, ready for the rehearsal.
+
+Mr. Miaco, who had been called on and informed of the news,
+accompanied them.  It was he who hauled the boys up to the rings
+far up toward the top of the tent.
+
+"Get a net under there!  We don't want to lose any more
+performers this season," the clown commanded.
+
+After some little delay the net was spread and the showman
+motioned for the performance to proceed, walking over and taking
+his seat on the boards so that he might watch the performance
+from the viewpoint of the audience.
+
+With the utmost confidence the boys went through the act without
+a slip.  They did everything that Signor Navaro had done in his
+performance, adding some clever feats of their own that had been
+devised with the help of Mr. Miaco.  Mr. Sparling looked on with
+twinkling eyes and frequent nods of approval.
+
+"Fine!  Fine!  One of the best flying-ring acts I ever saw," he
+shouted, when finally the lads rounded out their act by a series
+of rapid evolutions commonly known as "skinning the cat."  Even
+in this their act was attended with variations.
+
+The boys concluded by a graceful drop into the net, from which
+they bounded into the air, swung themselves to the ground, each
+throwing a kiss to the grinning manager.
+
+A number of performers who had been a witness to the performance
+clapped their hands and shouted "bravo!"
+
+Mr. Sparling called the lads to him.
+
+"The act is yours," he said.  "It is better than Navaro's.  Each
+of you will draw twenty five dollars a week for the rest of the
+season," he announced to the proud circus boys, who thereupon ran
+to the dressing tent to take a quick bath and get into their
+costumes ready for the parade.
+
+"See to it that they have the net spread, Mr. Ducro," he
+directed. "Never permit them to perform without it."
+
+That afternoon the boys made their first appearance in the
+flying-ring exhibition, and their act really proved a sensation.
+Mr. Sparling, who was observing it from the side, kept his head
+bobbing with nods of approval and muttered comments.
+
+After the show Phil suggested that thereafter Teddy be allowed to
+use a clown makeup, because his funny antics in the air were more
+fitted to the character of a clown than to that of a finished
+performer.
+
+To this the owner readily agreed, and that night they tried it
+with tremendous success.
+
+The days that followed were bright ones for the circus boys. Each
+day seemed an improvement over the previous one.  The season drew
+rapidly to a close and they looked forward to the day with keen
+regret.
+
+One day Mr. Sparling summoned them to his tent.
+
+"Are you boys ready to sign up for next season?" he asked.
+
+"I should like to," answered Phil.
+
+"This will be a railroad show next season, the third largest show
+on the road, and I want you both."
+
+"Thank you; I shall join gladly."
+
+"So will I," chorused Teddy.
+
+"Your salaries will be fifty dollars a week next season.  And if
+you wish a vaudeville engagement for the winter I think I shall
+be able to get one for you."
+
+"We are going to school, Mr. Sparling.  Teddy and I will be hard
+at work over our books next week.  But we are going to keep up
+our practice all winter and perhaps we may have some new acts to
+surprise you with in the spring," laughed Phil, his face aglow
+with happiness.
+
+A week later found the lads back in Edmeston, bronzed, healthy,
+manly and admired by all who saw them.  Phil had nearly four
+hundred dollars in the bank, while Teddy had about one hundred
+less.
+
+Phil's first duty after greeting Mrs. Cahill was to call on his
+uncle, who begrudgingly allowed his nephew to shake hands with
+him. Next day the circus boys dropped into their old routine life
+and applied themselves to their studies, at the same time looking
+forward to the day when the grass should grow green again and the
+little red wagons roll out for their summer journeyings.
+
+Here we will leave them.  But Phil and his companion will be
+heard from again in a following volume, to be published
+immediately, entitled, "THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or,
+Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark."  In this volume their
+thrilling adventures under the billowing canvas are to be
+continued, leading them on to greater triumphs and successes.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg Etext: The Circus Boys on the Flying
+Rings Or Making the Start in the Sawdust Life.
+