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The ring attendants brought out strips of bright yellow cloth； which
two clowns held across the ring for the Circus Boy to leap over as his
horse passed under。 This did not bother him in the least； though he had
never tried the act before。 It was a relic of the old circus days that few
shows had retained。
But Phil was on the point of balking when a clown came out with a
handful of hoops covered with paper。
〃You want me to jump through those things？〃 he questioned； during a
brief intermission。
〃Sure。〃
〃Does the other man do that？〃
〃He does。〃
〃Then I can do it； I guess。〃
〃I reckon you can do anything on a horse that you happen to feel like；〃
said the showman。
The band started up again and Phil sprang to his feet。 A paper hoop
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
was raised on the opposite side of the ring； the lad eyeing it hesitatingly。
〃I'll go through it if I break my neck trying；〃 he muttered； shutting his
lips tightly together。
Smash！
The Circus Boy hurled himself through the tender paper； but the
breaking paper stung his face like the crack of a whip lash； and Phil；
instead of landing on his feet as he should have done； struck the back of
his ring horse on all fours。
Sully growled angrily。
〃You make a blunder like that again； and you'll be sorry for it；〃 he
bullied； shaking an angry fist at Phil； who turned a pair of surprised eyes
on the showman。
〃See here；〃 retorted the lad with rising color； 〃I'm not in the habit of
being talked to like that。 If you don't like my riding I'll end the act right
here。 I'm not obliged to ride for you； you know。〃
〃Go on； go on！〃 snapped the owner。
The next hoop Phil took as easily as if he had been doing that very
same thing all through the season。
〃Fine！〃 chuckled Sully。 〃He's a star performer； even if he does give
me as good as I send。〃
Phil was hurling himself through a succession of hoops now。 Then all
at once； to his surprise and disapproval； five hoops of fire flared up before
him and on all sides of him。
〃Go through them！〃 shouted the showman。
〃I won't！〃
〃You can't stop now。 Are you going to let a little thing like that give
you an attack of cold feet？〃 demanded Sully。
Thus appealed to； Phil Forrest thought better of it。
〃Yip！yip！〃 he cried sharply to the ring horse； riding straight at the
first ring which he took without difficulty； though the hot flame on his
cheeks made him shrink himself into a smaller compass than had been the
case with the paper rings。
The audience was applauding him wildly； for somehow this slender；
youthful figure appealed to them more strongly than had any other
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
performer in the show thus far。 One after another Phil took the flaming
rings until he came to the last one which he approached with more
confidence than he had any of the others。
He hurled himself at it with less caution than before。 As he entered
the hoop of fire his elbows caught it； and instantly the lad felt the fire
burning through his silk ring shirt。
Without an instant's hesitation the boy leaped up into the air； clearing
his horse by a full two feet。
The force of his throw sent the ring of fire soaring through the air； as
he had； with quick intuition； imagined that it would。
Phil threw a splendid backward somersault almost slipping off the hips
of the ring horse。
〃Great！〃 exploded the owner。
The audience applauded wildly。
But the next instant Sully was not shouting approving words。 The
burning ring had slipped neatly over his own head and before he could
throw it off； his clothes； as well； were on fire。 Throwing himself down in
the sawdust the showman rolled and rolled； uttering loud imprecations and
threats； while audience and performers fairly screamed with delight。
He was up in a flash； expecting to find Phil making a dash for
freedom。
〃Stop him！〃 he bellowed。
Phil Forrest sat on the rump of the ring horse； grinning broadly at the
predicament of the owner of the Sully Hippodrome Circus。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XIV
A DASH FOR FREEDOM
〃Well； you are a star rider； anyway；〃 announced Sully； with emphasis
when he was once more leading Phil to the carriage to take him back to
the linen closet on board the private car。
But Sully was less violent； and there was a twinkle in his eyes that Phil
did not fail to catch。
〃He's planning something；〃 thought the boy； after being once more
locked in his compartment。 〃I shouldn't be surprised if I had ridden a
little too well today。 But it's going to be the means of getting me my
freedom。 Someone surely will see me and recognize me。〃
That night Phil rode again； winning even greater applause than he had
done at the afternoon performance。 But a closer watch was kept over
him； as Sully had imagined that the opportunities were greater for escape
than in broad daylight。 Phil had reasoned it out the same way； but he was
in no hurry。 He had done up his money in a little bag which he hung
about his neck each time before going into the ring； so that it might not be
stolen while he was performing； for； it will be remembered that the lad had
no trunk in which to keep his valuables。
No chance to escape presented itself during the evening； however； and
the lad was forced to return to his imprisonment again after the night
performance。
〃If you expect me to be in working order you should give me a decent
place to sleep；〃 he told Sully； while they were sitting at lunch in the
private car that night。
Sully grinned and winked an eye。
〃See anything green in my eye？〃
〃No。 It's all red。 I guess you see red most of the time。〃
〃If you