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〃Move over on the horse's hip。 There。 Sit over just as far as you
can without slipping off。 You saw how I did it this afternoon？〃
〃Yesoh； here I go！〃
Phil slid from the sloping side of the ring horse； landing in a heap； to
the acpaniment of a rippling laugh from Dimples。
〃I guess I'm not much of a bareback rider；〃 grinned the lad； picking
himself up。 〃How do you manage to stay on it in that position？〃
〃I don't know。 It is just practice。 You will catch the trick of it very
soon。〃
〃I'm not so sure of that。〃
〃There！ Now； take hold of the rein and stand up。 Don't be afraid〃
〃I'm not。 Don't worry about my being afraid。〃
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〃I didn't mean it that way。 Move back further。 It is not good to
stand in the middle of your horse's back all the time。 Besides throwing too
much weight on the back； you are liable to tickle the animal there and
make him nervous。 The best work is done by standing over the horse's
hip。 That's it。 Tread on the balls of your feet。〃
But Phil suddenly went sprawling； landing on the ground again； at
which both laughed merrily。
Very shortly after that the show in the big top came to a close。 The
concert was now going on； at the end nearest the menagerie tent； so Phil
and Dimples took the ring at the other end of the tent； where they resumed
their practice。
After a short time Phil found himself able to stand erect with more
confidence。 Now； his instructor； with a snap of her little whip； started the
gray to walking slowly about the ring； Phil holding tightly to the bridle
rein to steady himself。
〃Begin moving about now。 Tread softly and lightly。 That's it。
You've caught it already。〃
〃Why not put a pad on the horse's back； as I've seen some performers
do？〃 he questioned。
〃No。 I don't want you to begin that way。 Start without a pad； and
you never will have to unlearn what you get。 That's my advice。 I'm going
to set him at a gallop now。 Stand straight and lean back a little。〃
The ring horse moved off at a slow； methodical gallop。
Phil promptly fell off； landing outside the ring； from where he picked
himself up rather crestfallen。
〃Never mind。 You'll learn。 You are doing splendidly；〃 encouraged
Dimples； assisting him to mount again。 〃There's the press agent； Mr。
Dexter； watching you。 Now do your prettiest。 Do you know him？〃
〃No； I have not met him。 He's the fellow that Teddy says blows up
his words with a bicycle pump。〃
〃That's fine。 I shall have to tell him that。 Remember； you always
want to keep good friends with the press agent。 He's the man who makes
or unmakes you after you have passed the eagle eyes of the proprietor；〃
Dimples laughed。 〃From what I hear I guess you stand pretty high with
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Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃I try to do what is rightdo the best I know how。〃
She nodded； clucking to the gray and Phil stopped talking at once； for
he was fully occupied in sticking to the horse； over whose back he
sprawled every now and then in the most ridiculous of positions。 But；
before the afternoon's practice had ended； the lad had made distinct
progress。 He found himself able to stand erect； by the aid of the bridle
rein； and to keep his position fairly well while the animal took a slow
gallop。 He had not yet quite gotten over the dizziness caused by the
constant traveling about in a circle in the narrow ring； but Dimples assured
him that； after a few more turns； this would wear off entirely。
After finishing the practice； Dimples led her horse back to the horse
tent； promising Phil that they should meet the next afternoon。
Phil had no more than changed to his street clothes before he received
a summons to go to Mr。 Sparling in his private tent。
〃I wonder what's wrong now？〃 muttered the lad。 〃But； I think I know。
It's about that row we had this morning out on the lot。 I shouldn't be
surprised if I got fined for that。〃
With a certain nervousness； Phil hurried out around the dressing tent；
and skirting the two big tents； sought out Mr。 Sparling in his office。
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CHAPTER XI
SUMMONED BEFORE THE MANAGER
The lad was not far wrong in his surmise。 That Mr。 Sparling was
angry was apparent at the first glance。
He eyed Phil from head to foot； a fierce scowl wrinkling his face and
forehead。
〃Well； sir； what have you been up to this afternoon？〃
〃Practicing in the ring since the afternoon performance closed。〃
〃H…m…m…m！ And this forenoon？〃
〃Not much of anything in the way of work。〃
〃Have any trouble with any of the men？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who？〃
〃A man by the name of Larry； and another whom they call Bad Eye。〃
〃Humph！ I suppose you know it's a bad breach of discipline in a
show to have any mixups； don't you？〃
〃I do。 I make no apologies； except that I was acting wholly in self
defense。 All the same； I do not expect any favoritism。 I am willing to
take my punishment； whatever it may be；〃 replied the lad steadily。
There was the merest suspicion of a twinkle in the eyes of the
showman。
〃Tell me what you did。〃
〃I punched Larry； tripped his friend； andwell； I don't exactly know all
that did happen；〃 answered Phil without a change of expression。
〃Knock them down？〃
〃II guess so。〃
〃H…m…m。 I suppose you know both those fellows are pretty bad
medicine； don't you？〃
〃I may have heard something of the sort。〃
〃Larry has quite a reputation as a fighter。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃And you knocked him out？〃
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