Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/94

 Finally he lifted his tear-stained, beaming countenance to the ringmaster.

"Mister," he said, "if you wanted me to, and I had to, I could ride this little horse through fire and not git burned a bit."

The circus man threw back his head and laughed long and loud.

"I like that kind of talk," he said at last. "That is the true circus spirit. Bring the pony into the ring and I will see what you can do."

It needed only a few minutes to convince the circus man that Freckles was a natural-born rider. He rode like a monkey. Nothing could break his hold in the saddle. He was, of course, not so polished a rider as the discharged Tony, but he would equal him in a very few days, with proper training.

Together they led Dapples back to the horse tent.

"How would you like to jump the poor-farm and go with the circus, and ride