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according to the mile posts。〃
〃A couple of fine specimens you are；〃 growled the showman。 〃Well；
Marie； what have you to say for yourself？〃
〃II fell down the bank。〃
〃Pshaw！ What were you doing on the bank？〃
〃I got off to pick some flowers when the train stopped； and when I
tried to get back II couldn't。〃
〃Don't you know it is against the rules of the show to leave the train
between stations？〃
The Fat Lady nodded faintly。
〃Discipline must be maintained in this show。 You are fined five
dollars； and the next time such a thing happens I'll discharge you。
Understand？〃
〃Help； oh help！〃 murmured Marie。
Teddy was grinning and chuckling over the Fat Lady's misfortune。
〃And； young man； what were you doing off the train？〃 asked the
showman； turning sternly。
〃Me？ Why； II went to Marie's rescue。〃
〃You did； eh？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
〃I reckon it will cost you five dollars； too。〃
The grin faded slowly from Teddy's face。
〃Youyou going to fine me？〃 he stammered。
〃No； I'm not going to。 I already have done so。〃
〃It doesn't pay to be a hero。 A hero always gets the sharp end of the
stick。 But who's going to pay me for the clothes I ruined？〃
Mr。 Sparling surveyed the boy with the suspicion of a twinkle in his
eyes。
〃Well； kid； I reckon I shall have to buy you a new suit； at that。 Marie！〃
〃Yeyes； sir；〃 responded the woman。
〃Go downtown and see if you can find some new clothes that will fit
you。 If not buy two suits and splice them together。〃
〃Yes； sir； thank you； sir。〃
〃Have the bill sent to me。 Tucker； you do the same。 But remember；
discipline must be maintained in this show；〃 warned the owner sternly。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XXI
ON A FLYING TRAPEZE
The lesson lasted Teddy for a few hours； then he forgot all about it。
But he was made the butt of the jokes of the dressing tent for several days。
That afternoon Phil； while attending to some correspondence for Mr。
Sparling； had occasion to write to a trapeze performer about booking with
the Sparling show for the coming season。
〃I have been thinking； Mr。 Sparling；〃 said Phil； 〃that I should like to
perform on the flying trapeze next season。 You know I have been
practicing for sometime。〃
Mr。 Sparling glanced up from his papers。
〃I'm not surprised。 I guess that's the only thing you haven't done in
the show thus far。〃
〃I haven't been a fat woman or a living skeleton yet；〃 laughed Phil。
〃What can you do on the bars？〃
〃I can do all that your performers do。 Sometimes I think I might be
able to do more。 I can do passing leaps； two…and…a…halfs； birds' nest and
all that sort of thing。〃
〃Is it possible？ I had no idea you had gotten that far along。〃
〃Yes。 I have been wishing for a chance to see how I could work
before an audience。〃
〃Haven't you enough to do already？〃
〃Well； I suppose I have； but you know I want to get along。 The season
is nearly closed now； and I shall not have another opportunity before next
spring； possibly。 As long as you are going to engage some other
performers for next year I rather thought it might be a good plan to offer
myself for the work。〃
〃Why； Phil； why didn't you tell me？〃
〃I didn't like to。〃
〃You can have anything in this show that you want。 You know that；
do you not？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 answered the Circus Boy in a low tone。 〃And I thank you
very much。〃
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〃When do you want to go on？〃
〃Any time you think best。 Would you prefer to have me go through a
rehearsal？〃
〃Not necessary。 You have been practicing with Mr。 Prentice； the head
of the trapeze troupe； haven't you？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃If you say you are fit； I am willing to take your word for it。 In view of
the fact that you already have worked with the aerial people all you will
have to do will be to go on。 I shall enjoy seeing you do so； if you think
you can stand the added work。〃
〃I can do so easily。 When shall I try it？〃
〃Whenever you wish。〃
〃What do you say to trying it tonight？〃
〃Certainly； go on tonight； if you want to。 I'll make it a point to be on
hand and watch the act。〃
〃Thank you； very much。 You are more kind to me than I have any
reason to expect。〃
〃No such thing；〃 snapped the showman。 〃Send Mr。 Prentice to me
and I will give the necessary orders。〃
Phil； full of pleasurable anticipation； hurried to convey the good news
to Mr。 Prentice。 The result was that； instead of four performers appearing
in the great aerial act that evening； there were five。
Phil shinned the rope to the trapeze perch； hand over hand； the muscles
standing out on his arms as he made the ascent； with as much ease as he
would walk to the dressing room； and perhaps even with less effort。
Phil； with perfect confidence in himself； swung out and back to give
himself the momentum necessary to carry him to where Mr。 Prentice was
now hanging head down ready to catch him。
The catcher slapped his palms sharply together； the signal that on the
return flight Phil was to let go and throw himself into the waiting arms of
the other。
In a graceful； curving flight the Circus Boy landed in the iron grip of
Mr。 Prentice； and on the return sweep sprang lightly into the air； deftly
catching his own trapeze bar which carried him to his perch。
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
Next he varied his performance by swinging off with his back to the
catcher； being caught about the waist； then thrown back to meet his
trapeze bar。
〃He's the most graceful aerial performer I ever saw on a bar；〃 declared
Mr。 Sparling。 〃He is a wonder。〃
The next variation of the act was what is known as a 〃passing leap；〃
where； while the catcher is throwing one pe