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to get away；〃 demanded the showman a sudden thought occurring to him。
〃I shall make no such agreement。 If I get a chance to get away I'll do
it； you may depend upon that。 I will agree； however； to make no outcry
nor to appeal to anyone to help me。 If I can't manage it my own way； I'll
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stay here till I can。 Remember； I'm going to beat you if I can； and if I
can't； why Mr。 Sparling will settle with you。 He will do it properly； too。〃
The showman leaned back and guffawed loudly。
〃I never saw a kid like you yet。 You beat anything that ever got into a
freak tent。 You are so infernally honest that you give me notice you're
going to try to escape from me。 Thanks； my boy； for the timely warning。
I'll see to it that you don't get away until I am ready to lose you。 If you
try it you must expect some rough treatment； and you'll get it too。〃 〃Very
well； I accept the terms。 How about the payment in advance？〃
Sully drew a roll of bills from his pocket counting out the sum agreed
upon。
〃If you should happen to get away I'd be out the money？〃
〃I'll send it back to you in that event。〃
〃Ho； ho； ho！ I believe you would； at that。〃
〃I certainly shall。〃
〃Say； kid； don't it ever give you pain to be so awfully honest？〃
〃I'll confess that it does when I am doing business with a man like
you。〃
〃Oh！ That one landed。 That was a knockout；〃 chuckled the
showman； rising。 〃I'll be back after you with the rig pretty soon。 We've
got to fix up some togs for you to ride in； but I guess we can do that all
right。 I'll have to put you back in your cage in the meantime。〃 It lacked
an hour and a half of the time for the afternoon performance to begin when
Sully called with his carriage for his new star。 Phil was ready； as far as
he was able to be； and really welcomed the opportunity to get out in the air
again。 But he was so stiff from the confinement in the narrow linen
closet that he did not feel as if he should be able to ride at all。
The drive to the circus lot was without incident； and Phil embraced the
opportunity to familiarize himself with the town and its surroundings as
fully as was possible under the circumstances。 He had tried to form some
plan by which to make his escape； but had given it up and decided to trust
to luck。
There was another reason for his having decided to ride in the Sully
Hippodrome Show that day； and every day thereafter； providing he was
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not able to get away before leaving Corinto。 He hoped that Mr。 Sparling
might have sent someone on to find out what had become of him。 This
was sure to be done sooner or later； especially when the showman found
that his letters were not being answered； but were being returned to him；
as had been arranged for before Phil left his own show。
Reaching the lot they drove around to the paddock where Phil and his
new employer entered the dressing tent。 Even there the lad was given no
chance to break away。 It seemed to him that every person connected with
the show had been set to watch him。 When he entered the dressing tent he
was subjected to the curious gaze of the performers； most of whom
understood that he was to ride that day in the place of the injured
performer； but who knew nothing further about the matter。
Some difficulty was experienced in getting a pair of tights that would
fit Phil； but after awhile this was arranged。
〃You sit down here and wait now；〃 directed Mr。 Sully。
〃No； I've got something else to do。 Bring the horse out in the
paddock and let me see what I have to ride；〃 answered Phil。
While they were getting out the ring horse； the lad indulged in a series
of bends and limbering exercises out in the paddock； working until the
perspiration stood out in great beads。
This done Phil sprang up to the back of the ring horse； and while an
attendant held the animal in a circle with a long leading strap； Phil rode
the horse about the paddock a few times until he had become familiar with
the motion and peculiarities of the animal。
〃How is he in the ring； fast or slow？〃
〃Just steady。 Been at it a long time；〃 the attendant informed him。
〃He's steady。 You can depend on him。〃
〃Yes； he acts so。 I'll look at the ring when I go in。〃
The owner of the show had been a keen observer of these preparations。
He noted； too； Phil appeared entirely to have forgotten about his desire to
escape。
〃That kid acts to me as if he knew his business；〃 he reflected。 〃If he
rides the way I think he can； I'm going to get him away from Sparling if I
have to double the wages he's drawing now。 And money talks！〃
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The band began to play in the big top。 Phil glanced at the showman。
〃When do I go on？〃
〃Second number。〃
The lad nodded； and sat awaiting his turn to enter the arena。 He did
not have to ask when the moment had arrived。 The attendant started to
lead the ring horse in and Phil quickly fell in behind； following them in。
Right behind the Circus Boy came Sully； the owner of the show； never
taking his eyes off his captive for a moment。 This amused the lad。 He
grinned broadly。 It was a novel experience for him。
Soon the strains of music told him this was where he was to begin his
act。 The boy swung gracefully to the back of his mount。 Instantly he had
leaped to his feet Sully clapped his hands together approvingly。
〃That's the way to do it。 You've got the other fellow skinned forty
ways！〃 he cried。
〃In some ways；〃 replied Phil significantly。 〃Otherwise not。〃
The ring was in excellent shape； much to the boy's surprise； and the
horse was the best he ever had ridden。 In a few moments Phil began to
feel very much at home and to enjoy himself thoroughly。
The ring attendants brought out strips of bright yellow cloth； which
two clowns held across the ring for