This time, Bill attached the cymbal to Crummie’s tail and tied a small hammer to one paw. The other paw had a string tied to it, and this string pulled a lever that sounded a whistle. Then the dog was given the drum-stick again, and the signal for music was sounded by his master.
This time, Crummie thumped the cymbals with his tail, while striking the glass-cylinders with the hammer fastened on his left paw. The string was jerked irregularly to sound the whistle, but the drum fared badly, as the dog was so intent on the other three instruments that he forgot to beat with the stick held between his teeth, except at rare intervals. But the sagacity shown by the animal won tremendous applause from the audience, so that both master and dog felt amply repaid for the tedious hours of practice.
“Now we have a scene between two Roman Gladiators in the open arena. This will end our performance, but the guests are all invited to the Refectory, where the Little Citizens wish to serve refreshments to them.”
After some arguing back of the canvas curtain, the visitors were amused to see a Roman chariot appear. Bob and Dobbin were hitched tandem to a two-wheeled dump-cart. But the cart had been white-washed—wheels and body, and festooned with wild flowers until it presented a gala appearance. The two horses balked at pulling the familiar cart à la tandem and Bob wished to precede Dobbin, and the latter wished to stop to investigate a sweet-smelling bunch of clover right in his pathway to glory.
Therefore, the two Gladiators who stood in the cart endeavoring to coax their steeds to more speed, felt abashed at the laughter accorded their entrance into the arena.
But once the imperfectly-matched horses had drawn the cart to its goal, the two athletic-looking boys jumped lightly out and posed in attitudes approved in boxing rings.
This last number was wildly applauded by the men present, but the ladies said they could see nothing entertaining in boxing! The bout being ended, the two contestants shook hands and looked about for the chariot which was to carry them back to the dressing room. The attention of all present was thus attracted to the cart and horses, and a general laugh echoed over the field.
Dobbin being unaccustomed to the wreaths of wild clover blossoms and daisies hung about his neck and farm-harness, had managed to pull part of his decoration around to one side and stood calmly chewing it up. Bob on the other hand, had so resented being hitched to an old-fashioned nag as Dobbin was that he had twisted and backed and pulled until the not-too-secure tandem-harness hastily contrived of rope and bits of strap, broke and left him to gambol away to the fresh green grass growing on the banks of the brook.
So the exit of the Romans was made on their own pedals and Farmer Jones was sent to capture his two steeds and cart.