CHAPTER XXI
ON A FLYING TRAPEZE
The lesson lasted Teddy for a few hours; then he forgot allabout it. But he was made the butt of the jokes of the dressingtent for several days.
That afternoon Phil, while attending to some correspondence forMr. Sparling, had occasion to write to a trapeze performer aboutbooking with the Sparling show for the coming season.
"I have been thinking, Mr. Sparling," said Phil, "that I shouldlike to perform on the flying trapeze next season. You know Ihave been practicing for sometime."
Mr. Sparling glanced up from his papers.
"I'm not surprised. I guess that's the only thing you haven'tdone 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 mightbe 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 workbefore 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 anotheropportunity before next spring, possibly. As long as you aregoing to engage some other performers for next year I ratherthought 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 knowthat, do you not?"
"Yes, sir," answered the Circus Boy in a low tone. "And I thankyou very much."
"When do you want to go on?"
"Any time you think best. Would you prefer to have me go througha 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 aerialpeople all you will have to do will be to go on. I shall enjoyseeing 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 pointto be on hand and watch the act."
"Thank you, very much. You are more kind to me than I have anyreason to expect."
"No such thing," snapped the showman. "Send Mr. Prentice to meand I will give the necessary orders."
Phil, full of pleasurable anticipation, hurried to convey thegood news to Mr. Prentice. The result was that, instead of fourperformers appearing in the great aerial act that evening, therewere five.
Phil shinned the rope to the trapeze perch, hand over hand, themuscles standing out on his arms as he made the ascent, with asmuch ease as he would walk to the dressing room, and perhaps evenwith less effort.
Phil, with perfect confidence in himself, swung out and backto give himself the momentum necessary to carry him to whereMr. Prentice was now hanging head down ready to catch him.
The catcher slapped his palms sharply together, the signal thaton the return flight Phil was to let go and throw himself intothe waiting arms of the other.
In a graceful, curving flight the Circus Boy landed in the irongrip of Mr. Prentice, and on the return sweep sprang lightly intothe air, deftly catching his own trapeze bar which carried him tohis perch.
Next he varied his performance by swinging off with his back tothe catcher, being caught about the waist, then thrown back tomeet 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 oneperformer back to his trapeze bar, a second one is flyingtoward the catcher, the two supple bodies passing in the airheaded in opposite directions. In this case, his oppositepartner was a young woman, the successor to little Zorayawho had been so severely injured earlier in the season.
"Fine, Phil!" she breathed as they passed each other, and theCircus Boy's face took on a pleased smile.
"Try a turn next time," said Mr. Prentice, as he threw Phillightly into the air toward his trapeze. "Think you can do it?"
"I can try, at least."
Phil got a wide swing and then at a signal from the catcher, shotup into the air. He threw a quick somersault, then stretched outhis hands to be caught. He was too low down for Mr. Prentice toreach him and Phil shot toward the net head first.
Though he had lost his bearings during the turn he had not losthis presence of mind.
"Turn!" shouted a voice from below, the watchful ringmasterhaving observed at once that the lad was falling, and that he wasliable to strike on his head in the net with the possible chanceof breaking his neck.
Phil understood, then, exactly what his position was, and, with aslight upward tilt of his head, brought his body into position sothat he would strike the net on his shoulders.
He hit the net with a smack, bounded high into the air, roundingoff his accident by throwing a somersault on the net, bounding upand down a few times on his feet.
The audience, quick to appreciate what he had done, gave Phila rousing cheer.
He shook his head and began clambering up the rope again.
"What happened to me?" he called across to the catcher.
"You turned too quickly."
"I'll do it right this time."
The band stopped playing, that its silence might emphasizethe act. Then Phil, measuring his distance with keen eyes,launched into the air again. But instead of turning onesomersault he turned two, landing fairly into the outstretchedarms of Mr. Prentice, who gave him a mighty swing, whereat Philhurled himself into a mad whirl, performing three moresomersaults before he struck the net.
The audience howled with delight, and Mr. Sparling rushed forwardfairly hugging the Circus Boy in his delight.
"Wonderful!" cried the showman. "You're a sure-enough starthis time."