Part 33 (1/2)

The act was a decided novelty, and was almost as great a hit as had been the somersaulting automobile of a season before.

The balloon stood swaying easily at its anchorage.

”Give a hand here, men. Let the bag up and the boy can get on the platform, after which you can pull him down.”

”That won't do,” spoke up Phil. ”He can't reach the platform.

Someone will have to go up and toss him a rope. He can make the rope fast and slide down it.”

”I guess you are right, at that. Who will go up?”

”I will,” answered the Circus Boy. ”Give me that coil of rope.”

Taking his place on the platform the lad rose slowly toward the top of the tent as the men paid out the anchor rope.

”Halt!” shouted Phil when he found himself directly opposite his companion.

”Think you can catch it, Teddy?”

”Yep.”

”Well, here goes.”

The rope shot over Teddy's head, landing in his outstretched arm.

”Be sure you make it good and fast before you try to s.h.i.+n down it,” warned Phil.

”I'll take care of that. Don't you worry. You might toss me a peanut while I'm getting ready. I'll go in my cage quicker.”

Phil laughingly threw a handful toward his companion, three or four of which Teddy caught, some in his mouth and some in his free hand, to the great amus.e.m.e.nt of the spectators.

”They ought to pay an admission for that,” grinned Phil.

”For what?”

”For seeing the animals perform. You are the funniest animal in the show at the present minute.”

”Well, I like that! How about yourself?” peered Teddy with well-feigned indignation.

”I guess I must be next as an attraction,” laughed the boy.

”I guess, yes.”

”Haul away,” called Phil to the men below him, and they started to pull the balloon down toward the ground again.

”Get a net under Tucker there,” directed Mr. Sparling.

”I'm not going to dive. What do you think?” retorted Teddy.

”There is no telling what you may or may not do,” answered the showman. ”It is the unexpected that always happens with you.”