“Ladies and gentlemen,” said he, “I take pleasure in announcing Mademoiselle Monkeyetta, direct from the deepest depths of Jungleland, who, with her marvelous steed, Zebraello, will now astonish you with her wonderful feats of riding.”
At this Seal and his family played a ringing, lingering “ta-ta-a-a-ah” on their horns; the band struck up the liveliest of melodies, while into the ring trotted Zebra with Monkey posed on his back. Close behind came Diggeldy Dan, balancing his round, pointed hat on the tip of his nose.
And then, at a whip-crack from Lion, the riding began.
Around and around went the galloping pair—a maze of black and white stripes surmounted by a higgeldy-piggeldy ball of ruffles of blue, a flopping pink hat, with here and there a brown leg or an arm. At first Monkey did little more than hold fast to Zebra’s short mane. But, gradually becoming used to his steed’s measured stride, the merry-eyed fellow dared to stand on his feet and to dance as they flew round the ring. At this all the animals applauded with glee, while Lion cracked his long whip even more than before.
Faster and faster went Elephant’s ears. Faster and faster went the music, and faster and faster sped Zebra. And then, all of a sudden, this wonderful steed stopped short in his tracks, sending Monkey high over his head!
All leaped to their feet to see the marvelous rider sitting quite in a heap and striving to free his face from the depths of his hat which had been completely switched about by the tumble.
“I say, there! That wasn’t one of the things we planned to do,” sputtered Monkey from inside the bonnet.
“I know it,” admitted Zebra, as he did his best to smother his laughter; “but, as I was going round and round it occurred to me that I would make a far better looking trick mule than a handsome circus horse. And, as trick mules always toss their riders over their ears—why, I just came to a stop, and—there you are.”
“Yes,” assented Monkey, rather ruefully, “here I am.” But, scrambling to his feet and disposing of the bonnet, he caught the twinkle in every eye. And then he, too, burst into a merry laugh.
“Zebra, you were quite right,” he said. “Perhaps we were both taking ourselves a bit too seriously; for, I’m bound to confess, I hardly look like one of the beautiful circus ladies who ride round the rings.”