Part 11 (1/2)
”Where was that?” questioned a voice. ”I never heard of your riding a greased pig around these parts.”
”I guess that must have been before you were born,” retorted Teddy witheringly.
”Say, Phil,” persisted Walter, this time in a confidential tone.
”Yes?”
”Do you suppose you could get me a job in the circus?”
”I don't know about that, Walt. What do you think you could do?”
”Well, I can do a cartwheel and--”
”Oh, fudge!” interrupted Teddy.
”That's more than Tucker could do when he joined the show.
Do you know what he did, first of all?” said Phil.
”No; what did he do?” chorused the boys.
”He poured coffee in the cook tent for the thirsty roustabouts.
That's the way he began his circus career.”
”I didn't do it more than a day or two,” Tucker explained, rather lamely.
”But you did it!” jeered Walter.
”Then his next achievement was riding the educated mule. I guess you boys never saw him do that.”
”Not until tonight.”
”This is different. The other was a bucking mule, and Teddy made a hit from the first time he entered the ring on Jumbo. He hit pretty much everything in the show, including the owner himself.”
Phil leaned back and laughed heartily at the memory of his companion's exhibition at this, his first appearance in a circus ring as a performer.
”No, Walt, I wouldn't advise you to join. Some people are cut out for the circus life. They never would succeed at anything else. Teddy and myself for instance. Besides, your people never would consent to it. You will be a lawyer, or something great, some of these days, while we shall be cutting up capers in the circus ring at so much per caper. It's a wonderful life but you keep out of it,” was Phil Forrest's somewhat illogical advice.
”How far are you going this year?” asked one of the boys.
”I can't say. I understand we are going south--to Dixie Land for the last half of the season. I think we are headed for Canada, just now, swinging around the circuit as it were. Isn't it about time we were getting back to the train, Teddy?”
”No, I guess not. I haven't eaten up all the cookies yet.
Please pa.s.s the cookies, you fellow up there at the head of the table.”
”We shall have our little entertainment before you fellows go to your sleeper. We reckon Phil Forrest and Teddy Tucker ought to do some stunts for us. Isn't that so?” asked President Billy.
”Yes,” shouted the boys.
”What, after a meal like that? I couldn't think of it,”
laughed Phil. ”Never perform on a full stomach unless you want to take chances. It might do you up for good.”