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stopped suddenly。
Phil went right on。 He was in a fair way to break his neck； as he was
plunging toward the turf head first。
〃Ball！〃 she cried； meaning to double oneself up into as near an
approach to a round ball as was possible。
But Phil already had begun to do this very thing。 And he did another
remarkable feat at the same time。 He turned his body in the air so that he
faced to the front； and the next instant landed lightly on his feet outside the
ring。
Phil blew a kiss to the amazed owner； turning back to the ring again。
By this time Mrs。 Robinson had placed the jumping board in the ring
a short piece of board； one end of which was built up about a foot from the
ground。 Then she started the ring horse galloping again。
Phil； measuring his distance； took a running start and vaulted； landing
on his feet on the animal's back； then； urging his mount on to a lively
gallop about the sawdust ring； he threw himself into a whirlwind of
graceful contortions and rapid movements； adding some of his own
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
invention to those usually practiced by bareback riders。
Phil dropped to the hip of the gray； his face flushed with triumph； his
eyes sparkling。
〃How is it； Mr。 Sparling？〃 he called。
The showman was clapping his hands and clambering down the aisle
from his position near the top row of seats。
〃You don't mean to tell me you have never tried bareback riding before
this season？〃 he demanded。
〃No； sir； this is my first experience。〃
〃Then all I have to say is that you will make one of the finest bareback
riders in the world if you keep on。 It is marvelous； marvelous！〃
〃Thank you；〃 glowed the lad。 〃But if there is any credit ing to
anyone it is due to Mrs。 Robinson。 She taught me how to do it；〃
answered Phil gallantly。
Little Dimples shook a small； brown fist at him。 〃He knows how to
turn a pretty pliment as well as he knows how to ride； Mr。 Sparling；〃
bubbled Dimples。 〃You should just hear the nice things he said to me
back in the paddock；〃 she teased。
Phil blushed furiously。
〃Shall I ride again？〃 he asked。
〃Not necessary；〃 answered the owner。 〃But； by the way； you might
get up and do a somersault。 Do a backward turn with the horse at a
gallop；〃 suggested Mr。 Sparling； with a suspicion of a smile at the corners
of his mouth。
〃A somersault？〃 stammered Phil； somewhat taken back。 〃WhyI I…
…I guess I couldn't do that； I haven't learned to do that yet。〃
〃Not learned to do it？ I am surprised。〃
Phil looked crestfallen。
〃I am surprised； indeed； that there is one thing in this show that you
are unable to do。〃 The manager broke out into a roar of laughter； in
which Little Dimples joined merrily。
〃May I go on？〃 asked the lad somewhat apprehensively。
〃May you？ May you？ Why； I〃
At that moment Teddy Tucker came strolling lazily in with a long；
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white feather tucked in the corner of his mouth。
The showman's eyes were upon it instantly。
〃What have you there？〃 he demanded。
〃Feather；〃 answered Teddy thickly。
〃I see it。 Where did you get it？〃
〃Pulled it out of the pelican's tail。 Going to make a pen of it to use
when I write to the folks at Edmeston；〃 answered the boy carelessly。
〃You young rascal！〃 thundered Mr。 Sparling。 〃What do you mean by
destroying my property like that？ I'll fine you！ I'll teach you！〃
〃Oh； it didn't hurt the pelican any。 Besides； he's got more tail than he
can use in his business； anyway。〃
〃Get out of here！〃 thundered the manager in well…feigned anger。 〃I'll
forget myself and discharge you first thing you know。 What do you want？〃
〃I was going to ask you something；〃 answered Teddy slowly。
〃You needn't。 You needn't。 It won't do you any good。 What is it
you were going to ask me？〃
〃I was going to ask you if I might go in the leaping act。〃
〃The leaping act？〃
〃Yes； sir。 The one where the fellows jump over the elephants and〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！ What do you think of that； Phil？ What do you〃
〃I can do it。 You needn't laugh。 I've done it every day for three
weeks。 I can jump over four elephants and maybe five； now。 I can〃
〃Yes； I have seen him do it； Mr。 Sparling；〃 vouched Phil。 〃He is
going to make a very fine leaper。〃
The showman removed his broad sombrero； wiped the perspiration
from his brow； glancing from one to the other of the Circus Boys。
〃May I？〃
〃Yes； yes。 Go ahead。 Do anything you want to。 I'm only the hired
man around here anyhow；〃 snapped the showman； jamming his hat down
over his head and striding away； followed by the merry laughter of Little
Dimples。
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CHAPTER XVII
THE CIRCUS BOYS WIN NEW LAURELS
〃Bareback riders out！〃 shouted the callboy； poking his head into the
dressing tent。
〃Get out！〃 roared a