"As I have intimated strongly before this, you beat anything I ever have seen in all my circus experience. You say you can ride bareback?"
"Yes."
"I should like to see what you can do. Mind you, I'm not saying I'll let you try it in public. Just curious, you know, to see what you have been doing."
"Now—will you see me ride now?"
Mr. Sparling nodded.
"Then I'll run back and get ready. I'll be out in a few minutes," laughed the boy, as, with sparkling eyes and flushed face, he dashed back to the dressing tent to convey the good news to Little Dimples.
"I knew it," she cried enthusiastically. "I knew you would be a rival soon. Now I've got to look out or I shall be out of a job in no time. Hurry up and get your working clothes on. I'll have the gray out by the time you are ready."
Twenty minutes later Phil Forrest presented himself in the ring, with Little Dimples following, leading the old gray ring horse.
"Come up to ring No. 2," directed the owner. "They haven't leveled No. 1 down yet. How's this? Don't you use the back pad to ride on?" questioned Mr. Sparling in a surprised tone.
"No, sir. I haven't used the pad at all yet."