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CHAPTER VIII
PHIL MAKES A NEW FRIEND
〃Tweetle！ Tweetle！〃
Two rippling blasts from the ringmaster's whistle notified the show
people that the performance was on。 In moved the procession for the
Grand Entry； as the silken curtains separating the paddock from the big top
slowly fell apart。
Phil； from his lofty perch on the head of old Emperor； peering through
the opening of the bonnet in which he was concealed； could not repress an
exclamation of admiration。 It was a splendid spectacletaken from a
story of ancient Rome that was sweeping majestically about the arena to
the music of an inspiring tune into which the big circus band had suddenly
launched。
Gayly…caparisoned； nervous horses pranced and reared； huge wagons；
gorgeous under their coat of paint and gold； glistened in the afternoon
sunlight that fell softly through the canvas top and gave the peculiar
rattling sound so familiar to the lover of the circus as they moved
majestically into the arena； elephants trumpeted shrilly and the animals
back in the menagerie tent sent up a deafening roar of protest。 After
months of quiet in their winter quarters； this unusual noise and excitement
threw the wild beasts into a tempest of anger。 Pacing their cages with
upraised heads； they hurled their loud…voiced protests into the air until the
more timid of the spectators trembled in their seats。
It was an inspiring moment for the circus people； as well as for the
spectators。
〃Tweetle！ Tweetle！〃 sang the ringmaster's whistle after the spectacle
had wound its way once around the concourse。
At this the procession wheeled； its head cutting between the two rings；
slowly and majestically reaching for the paddock and dressing tent； where
the performers would hurry into their costumes for their various acts to
follow。
This left only the elephants in the ring。 The huge beasts now began
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their evolutions； ponderous but graceful； eliciting great applause； as did
their trainer； Mr。 Kennedy。 Then came the round…off of the act。 This； it
will be remembered； was of Phil Forrest's own invention； the act in which
Phil； secreted in the elephant's bonnet； burst out at the close of the act； and；
by the aid of wires running over a pulley above him； was able to descend
gracefully to the sawdust arena。
He was just a little nervous in this； the first performance of the season；
but； steadying his nerves； he went through the act without a hitch and amid
thunders of applause。 As in the previous season's act； old Emperor
carried the lad from the ring； holding Phil out in front of him firmly
clasped in his trunk。 No similar act ever had been seen in a circus until
Phil and Emperor worked it out for themselves。 It had bee one of the
features of the show last year； and it bade fair to be equally popular that
season。 Phil had added to it somewhat； which gave the act much more
finish than before。
〃Very good； young man；〃 approved Mr。 Sparling； as the elephant bore
the lad out。 Mr。 Sparling was watching the show with keen eyes in order
to decide what necessary changes were to be made。 〃ing back to
watch the performance？〃
〃Oh； yes。 I wouldn't miss that for anything。〃
As soon as the lad had thrown off his costume and gotten back into his
clothes； he hurried into the big top； where he found Teddy； who did not go
on in his bucking mule act until later。
〃How's the show； Teddy？〃 greeted Phil。
〃Great。 Greatest thing I ever saw。 Did you see the fellows jump
over the herd of elephants and horses？〃
〃No。 Who were they？〃
〃Oh； most all of the crowd； I guess。 I'm going to do that。〃
〃You； Teddy？ Why； you couldn't jump over half a dozen elephants
and turn a somersault。 You would break your neck the first thing。〃
〃Mr。 Miaco says I could。 Says I'm just the build for that sort of
thing；〃 protested the lad。
〃Well； then； get him to teach you。 Of course we can't know how to
do too many things in this business。 We have learned that it pays to
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know how to do almost everything。 Have you made friends with the
mule since you got back？〃
〃Yes。 He spooned over me and made believe he loved me like a
brother。〃
Teddy paused reflectively。
〃Then what？〃
〃Well； then he tried to kick the daylight out of me。〃
〃I thought so；〃 laughed Phil。 〃I'm glad I chose an elephant for my
friend； instead of an educated mule。 When are you going to begin on the
springboardbegin practicing； I mean？〃
〃Mr。 Miaco says he'll teach me as soon as we get settled〃
〃Settled？ I never heard of a show getting settledthat is； not until the
season is ended and it is once more in winter quarters。 I suppose by
'settled' he means when everything gets to moving smoothly。〃
〃I guess so；〃 nodded Teddy。 〃What are you going to do？〃
〃The regular acts that I did last year。〃
〃No； I mean what are you going to learn new？〃
〃Oh！ Well； there are two things I'm crazy to be able to do。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃One is to be a fine trapeze performer；〃 announced Phil thoughtfully。
〃And the other？〃
〃To ride bareback。〃
〃Want to be the whole thing； don't you？〃 jeered Teddy。
〃No； not quite。 But I should like to be able to do those two things；
and to do them well。 There is nothing that catches the audiences as do
the trapezists and the bareback riders。 And it fascinates me as well。〃
〃Here； too；〃 agreed Teddy。
〃But there is one thing I want to talk with you aboutto read you a
lecture。〃
〃You needn't。〃
〃I shouldn't be surprised if there was some sort of an inquiry about the
row in the dressing tent。 You know Mr。 Sparling won't stand for anything
of that sort。〃
〃He doesn't know about it；〃 interposed Teddy。
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〃But we do。 Therefore； we are just as much to blame as if he did
know。 And I am not so sure that he doesn't。 You can't fool Mr。 Sparling。
You ought to know that by this time。 There isn't a thing goes on in this
show that he doesn't find out about； sooner or later； and he is going to find
out about this。〃
〃I didn't do anything。 You did； when you had a scrap with those two
fellows out on the lot。〃
〃You forget that you started the row by emptying a pail of water on
Larry's head。 Don't you call that starting doing anything？ I do。〃
Phil had to laugh at the ical expression on his panion's face。
〃Well； maybe。〃
〃And we haven't heard the last of those fellows yet。 They're mad all
through。 I am sorry I had to hit them。 But they would have used me
badly had I not done something to protect myself。 I should tell the whole
matter to Mr。 Sparling； were it not that I would get others into trouble。
That I wouldn't do。〃
〃I should think not。〃
〃By the way； Teddy； there e the bareback riders。 Don't you
follow after their act？〃
〃My！ That's so。 I had forgotten all about that。 Thought I was
watching the show just like the rest of the folks。〃
〃Better hustle； or you won't get into your makeup in time to go on。
There'll be a row for certain if you are late。〃
But Teddy already had started on a run for the dressing tent； bowling
over a clown at the entrance to the paddock and bringing down the wrath
of that individual as he hustled for the dressing tent and began feverishly
getting into his ring clothes。 These consisted of a loose fitting pair of
trousers； a slouch hat and a coat much the worse for wear。 A 〃Rube〃 act；
it was called in show parlance； and it was that in very truth； more because
of Teddy's drollery than for the makeup that he wore。
Phil quickly forgot all about the lecture he had been reading to his
panion as the bareback riders came trotting in。 His eyes were fixed
on a petite； smiling figure who tripped up to the curbing； where she turned
toward the audience； and； kicking one foot out behind her； bowed and
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threw a kiss to the spectators。
Phil had walked over and sat down by the center pole right near the
sawdust ring； so that he might get a better view of the riding。
The young woman who so attracted his attention was known on the
show bills as 〃Little Miss Dimples； the Queen of the Sawdust Arena。〃
Phil； as he gazed at her graceful little figure； agreed that the show bills did
not exaggerate her charms at all。
Little Dimples； using the ringmaster's hand as a step； vaulted lightly to
the back of the great gray ring horse； where she sat as the animal began a
slow walk about the ring。
Phil wondered how she could stay on； for she appeared to be sitting
right on the animal's sloping hip。
The band struck up a lively tune； the gray horse began a slow；
methodical gallop。 The first rise of the horse bounded Little Dimples to
her knees； and the next to her feet。
With a merry little 〃yip！ yip！〃 she began executing a fairy…like dance；
keeping time with her whip； which she held grasped in both hands。
〃Beautiful！〃 cried Phil； bringing his hands together sharply。 In fact； he
had never seen such artistic riding。 The girl seemed to be treading on air；
so lightly did her feet touch the rosined back of the ring horse。
Little Dimples heard and understood。 She flashed a brilliant smile at
Phil and tossed her whip as a salute。 Phil had never met her； but they
both belonged to the same great family； and that was sufficient。
His face broke out into a pleased smile at her recognition and the lad
touched his hat lightly； settling back against the center pole to watch
Dimples' riding； which had only just begun。 It made him laugh outright to
see her big picture hat bobbing up and down with the motion of the horse。
〃Works just like an elephant's ear when the flies are thick；〃 was the
lad's somewhat inelegant parison。
But now Dimples removed the hat； sending it spinning to the
ringmaster