按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you call to me to do so； but I couldn't。 But let's talk about you。 You hurt
your back； didn't you？〃
〃Nothing to speak of。 It will be all right by morning。 I'm just a little
lame now。 Where were youwhat show were you with last year？〃
〃The Ringlings。〃
〃The Ringlings？〃 marveled Phil。 〃Why； I shouldn't think you would
want to leave a big show like that for a little one such as this？〃
〃It's the price； my dear boy。 I get more money here； and I'm a star
here。 In the big shows one is just a little part of a big organization。
There's nothing like the small shows for fort and good fellowship。
Don't you think so？〃
〃I don't know；〃 admitted Phil。 〃This is the only show I have ever
been with。 I 'joined out' last season〃
〃Only last season？ Well； well！ I must say you have made pretty
rapid progress for one who has been out less than a year。〃
59
… Page 60…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃I have made a lot of blunders；〃 laughed Phil。 〃But I'm learning。 I
wish； though； that I could do a bareback act one quarter as well as you do。
I should be very proud if I could。〃
〃Have you ever tried it？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why don't you learn； then？ You'd pick it up quickly。〃
〃For the reason that I have never had an opportunityI've had no one
to teach me。〃
〃Then you shall do so now。 Your teacher is before you。〃
〃Youyou mean that you will teach me？〃
〃Of course。 What did you think I meant？〃
〃II wasn't sure。 That will be splendid。〃
〃I saw your elephant act。 You are a very finished performer a
natural born showman。 If you stay in the business long enough you will
make a great reputation for yourself。〃
〃I don't want to be a performer all my life。 I am going to own a show
some of these days；〃 announced the boy confidently。
〃Oh； you are； are you？〃 laughed Dimples。 〃Well； if you say so； I
most surely believe you。 You have the right sort of pluck to get anything
you set your heart on。 Now if my boy only〃
〃Your boy？〃
〃Yes。 Didn't you know that I am a married woman？〃
〃Oh my； I thought you were a young girl；〃 exclaimed Phil。
〃Thank you； that was a very pretty pliment。 But； alas； I am no
longer young。 I have a son almost as old as you are。 He is with his
father； performing at the Crystal Palace in London。 I expect to join them
over there after my season closes here。〃
〃Is it possible？〃
〃Yes； and as my own boy is so far away I shall have to be a sort of
mother to you this season。 You have no mother； have you？〃
〃No。 My mother is dead；〃 answered the lad in a low voice； lowering
his eyes。
〃I thought as much。 Mothers don't like to have their boys join a
circus； but； if they knew what a strict； wholesome life a circus performer
60
… Page 61…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
has to lead； they would not be so set against the circus。 Don't you think；
taking it all in all； that we are a pretty good sort？〃 smiled Dimples。
〃I wish everyone were as good as circus folks；〃 the boy made answer
so earnestly as to bring a pleased smile to the face of his panion。
〃You shall have a lesson today for that； if you wish。〃
〃Do I？〃
〃Then run along and get on your togs。 As soon as the performance is
over we will get out my ring horse and put in an hour's work。〃
〃Thank you； thank you！〃 glowed Phil as Mrs。 Robinson rolled up her
work。 〃I'll be out in a few moments。〃
Full of pleasurable anticipation； Phil ran to the dressing tent and began
rummaging in his trunk for his working tights。 These he quickly donned
and hurried back to the paddock。 There he found Dimples with her ring
horse； petting the broad…backed beast while he nibbled at the grass。
〃Waiting； you see？〃 she smiled up at Forrest。
〃Yes。 But the performance isn't finished yet； is it？〃
〃No。 The hippodrome races are just going on。 e over to this
side of the paddock； where we shall be out of the way； and I'll teach you a
few first principles。〃
〃What do you want me to do first？〃
〃Put your foot in my hand and I will give you a lift。〃
The lad did as directed and sprang lightly to the back of the gray。
〃Move over on the horse's hip。 There。 Sit over just as far as you
can without slipping off。 You saw how I did it this afternoon？〃
〃Yesoh； here I go！〃
Phil slid from the sloping side of the ring horse； landing in a heap； to
the acpaniment of a rippling laugh from Dimples。
〃I guess I'm not much of a bareback rider；〃 grinned the lad； picking
himself up。 〃How do you manage to stay on it in that position？〃
〃I don't know。 It is just practice。 You will catch the trick of it very
soon。〃
〃I'm not so sure of that。〃
〃There！ Now； take hold of the rein and stand up。 Don't be afraid〃
〃I'm not。 Don't worry about my being afraid。〃
61
… Page 62…
The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
〃I didn't mean it that way。 Move back further。 It is not good to
stand in the middle of your horse's back all the time。 Besides throwing too
much weight on the back； you are liable to tickle the animal there and
make him nervous。 The best work is done by standing over the horse's
hip。 That's it。 Tread on the balls of your feet。〃
But Phil suddenly went sprawling； landing on the ground again； at
which both laughed merrily。
Very shortly after that the show in the big top came to a close。 The
concert was now going on； at the end nearest the menagerie tent； so Phil
and Dimples took the ring at the other end of the tent； where they resumed
their practice。
After a short time Phil found himself able to stand erect with more
confidence。 Now； his instructor； with a snap of her little whip； started the
gray to walking slowly about the ring； Phil holding tightly to the bridle
rein to steady himself。
〃Begin moving about now。 Tread softly and lightly。 That's it。
You've caught it already。〃
〃Why not put a pad on the horse's back； as I've seen some performers
do？〃 he questioned。
〃No。 I don't want you to begin that way。 Start without a pad； and
you never will have to unlearn what you get。 That's my advice。 I'm going
to set him at a gallop now。 Stand straight and lean back a little。〃
The ring horse moved off at a slow； methodical gallop。
Phil promptly fell off； landing outside the ring； from where he picked
himself up rather crestfallen。
〃Never mind。 You'll learn。 You are doing splendidly；〃 encouraged
Dimples； assisting him to mount again。 〃There's the press agent； Mr。
Dexter； watching you。 Now do your prettiest。 Do you know him？〃
〃No； I have not met him。 He's the fellow that Teddy says blows up
his words with a bicycle pump。〃
〃That's fine。 I shall have to tell him