Just as the hospital wagon reached the procession the band struck up and the horse was frightened and jumped. It gave the wagon just enough of a jerk to throw Otto out. He was tossed into the little space between the ponies and the buffalo. The beast’s great hoofs were almost upon him!
There was a wild cry from the crowd, but it was Sonny Boy who slipped from his high perch and, not an instant too soon, drew his friend out of the danger.
Sonny Boy lost his own footing; the buffalo’s hoof grazed his arm and tore the gold lace of his tunic.
Friendly hands were ready to lift him again to his seat, while the crowd cheered him until it was hoarse.
“Otto first! Lift him up here and I will hold him on. It’s his first good time.” The marshal of the procession made no objection, since it was something that pleased the crowd.
Up went Otto, in his blanket, to the front place, frightened, but not hurt, and Sonny Boy held him securely, and the crowd went wild!
Above all its noise a shrill voice suddenly came to Sonny Boy’s ears.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo! Aren’t you stuck up?”
And if there wasn’t Polly, in a great gilt cage, swinging high above the Fat Lady’s chariot!
Polly had been calling out the names of all the wonders in the show, as she had been taught, but when she saw Sonny Boy she remembered old times. She shouted out all the patriotism she knew, and the band played Yankee Doodle, and the people said that the best was what was not down in the bills.