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from the side lines； stood leaning against a quarter pole with a set grin on
his face。 His confidence in his little Circus Boy was not wholly lost yet。
〃Keep her up！ Keep her up！ What ails you？〃 snapped Phil。 All
the grit in the lad's slender body seemed to e to the front now。 His
eyes were flashing and he gripped the little riding whip as if he would vent
his anger upon it。
The ringmaster's whip had exploded again and the gray began to
gallop。 Phil paused on the ring curbing with head slightly inclined
forward； watching the gray with keen eyes。
Phil had forgotten that sea of human faces out there now。 He saw
only that broad gray； rosined back that he must reach and cling to； but
without a slip this time。
All at once he left the curbing； dashing almost savagely at his mount。
〃He'll never make it from the ground；〃 groaned Mr。 Sparling； realizing
that Phil had no step to aid him in his effort to reach the back of the
animal。
The lad launched himself into the air as if propelled by a spring。 He
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landed fairly on the back of the ring horse； wavered for one breathless
second； then fell into the pose of the acplished rider。
〃Y…i…i…ip！ Y…i…i…i…p！〃 sang the shrill voice of Little Dimples far
down in ring No。 1。
〃Y…i…i…i…p！〃 answered the Circus Boy； while the spectators broke into
thunders of applause。
Mr。 Sparling； hardened showman that he was； brushed a suspicious
hand across his eyes and sat down suddenly。
〃Such grit； Such grit！〃 he muttered。
Phil threw himself wildly into his work； taking every conceivable
position known to the equestrian world； and essaying many daring feats
that he had never tried before。 It seemed simply impossible for the boy
to fall； so sure was his footing。 Now he would spring from the broad
back of the gray； and run across the ring； doing a lively handspring； then
once more vault into a standing position on the mare。
Suddenly the band stopped playing； for the rest that is always given
the performers。 But Phil did not pause。
〃Keep her up！〃 Forrest shouted； bringing down his whip on the flanks
of his mount and； in a fervor of excitement and stubborn determination；
going at his work like a whirlwind。
Mr。 Sparling； catching the spirit of the moment scrambled to his feet
and rushed to the foot of the bandstand； near which he had been sitting。
〃Play； you idiots； play！〃 shouted the proprietor； waving his arms
excitedly。
Play they did。
Little Dimples； too； had by this time forgotten that she was resting； and
now she began to ride as she never had ridden before； throwing a series of
difficult backward turns； landing each time with a sureness that she never
had before acplished。
Tweetle！ Tweetle！
The act came to a quick ending。 The time for the equestrian act had
expired； and it must give way to the others that were to follow。 But Phil；
instead of dropping to the ground and walking to the paddock along the
concourse； suddenly brought down his whip on the gray's flanks； much to
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that animal's surprise and apparent disgust。
Starting off at a quicker gallop； the gray swung into the concourse；
heading for the paddock with disapproving ears laid back on her head； Phil
standing as rigid as a statue with folded arms； far back over the animal's
hips。
The people were standing up； waving their arms wildly。 Many hurled
their hats at the Circus Boy in their excitement； while others showered
bags of peanuts over him as he raced by them。
Such a scene of excitement and enthusiasm never had been seen under
that big top before。 Phil did not move from his position until he reached
the paddock。 Arriving there he sat down； slid to the ground and
collapsed in a heap。
Mr。 Sparling came charging in； hat missing and hair standing straight
up where he had run his fingers through it in his excitement。
He grabbed Phil in his arms and carried him into the dressing tent。
〃You're not hurt； are you； my lad？〃 he cried。
〃No； I'm just a silly little fool；〃 smiled Phil a bit weakly。 〃How did I
do？〃
〃It was splendid； splendid。〃
〃Hurrah for Phil Forrest！〃 shouted the performers。 Then boosting the
lad to their shoulders； the painted clowns began marching about the
dressing tent with him singing； 〃For He's a Jolly Good Fellow。〃
〃All out for the leaping act；〃 shouted the callboy； poking his grinning
countenance through between the flaps。 〃Leapers and clowns all out on
the jump！〃
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CHAPTER XVIII
DOING A DOUBLE SOMERSAULT
Cool； confident a troop of motley fools and clean…limbed performers
filed out from the dressing tent； on past the bandstand and across the arena
to the place where the springboard had been rigged； with a mat two feet
thick a short distance beyond it。
With them proudly marched Teddy Tuck