Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/117

 When I spoke to him about it, he defied me, and I fired him. He came back at me by trying to poison the little horse, but this boy prevented it. They were having the liveliest fight I ever saw when I arrived on the scene." Then the ringmaster told of the fight in detail.

"Good for you, boy," cried an old bareback rider when the story was finished. He leaned over and slapped Freckles on the back.

"That is the sort of stuff," said another. "You can't ride a horse unless you love him, and Tony never loved anything but himself."

Several of the performers shook Freckles's hand and said a cheery word to him before retiring, and he was quite overcome by their kindness.

Probably each was thinking of the day when he too had slipped away to join the circus. They did not know just what he had left behind, but anyhow he must be lonesome.