Dimples" next act was to jump through a series of paper hoops.
This finished, she leaped to the ring, and, taking a running start, vaulted to the back of her horse.
"Bravo!" cried Phil, which brought another brilliant smile from the rider. She knew that it was not herself, but her work, that had brought this expression of approval from the Circus Boy, whom she already knew of by hearing some of the other performers tell of his achievements since he joined the circus less than a year ago.
"The ring is rough. I should have thought they would have leveled it down better," Phil grumbled, noting the uneven surface of the sawdust circle with critical eyes. "I"ll bet Mr. Sparling hasn"t seen that, or he would have raised a row. But still Dimples seems very sure on her feet. I wonder if she does any brilliant stunts?"
As if in answer to the lad"s question, the "tweetle" of the ringmaster"s whistle brought everything to a standstill under the big top. Even the band suddenly ceased playing. Then Phil knew that something worthwhile was coming.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" announced the ringmaster, holding up his right hand to attract the eyes of the spectators to him, "Little Miss Dimples, The Queen of the Sawdust Arena, will now perform her thrilling, death-defying, unexcelled, unequaled feat of turning a somersault on the back of a running horse. I might add in this connection that Little Miss Dimples is the only woman who ever succeeded in going through this feat without finishing up by breaking her neck. The band will cease playing while this perilous performance is on, as the least distraction on the part of the rider might result fatally for her. Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce to you Little Miss Dimples," concluded the ringmaster, with a comprehensive wave of the hand toward the young woman and her gray ring horse.
Dimples dropped to the ring, swept a courtesy to the audience, then leaped to the animal"s back with a sharp little "yip! yip!"
During the first round of the ring she removed the bridle, tossing it mischievously in Phil"s direction. He caught it deftly, placing it on the ground beside him, then edged a little closer to the ring that he might the better observe her work.
The ring horse started off at a lively gallop, the rider allowing her elbows to rise and fall with the motion of the horse, in order that she might the more thoroughly become a part of the animal itself--that the motion of each should be the same.
Suddenly Dimples sprang nimbly to her feet, tossing her riding whip to the waiting hands of the ringmaster.
Phil half scrambled to his feet as he saw her poise for a backward somersault. He had noted another thing, too. She was going to throw herself, it seemed, just as the horse was on the roughest part of the ring. He wondered if she could make it.
To him it was a risky thing to try, but she no doubt knew better than he what she was about.
The ringmaster held up his hand as a signal to the audience that the daring act was about to take place.
Phil crept a little nearer.
All at once the girl gracefully threw herself into the air.
He judged she had cleared the back of the animal by at least three feet, a high jump to make straight up with unbent knees.
But just as she was leaving the back of the horse, the animal suddenly stumbled, thus turning her halfway around, and for the instant taking her mind from her work. Dimples already had begun to turn backward, but he noted that all at once she stopped turning.
Phil knew what that meant. As show people term it, she had "frozen" in the air. She was falling, head first, right toward the wooden ring curbing.
"Turn! Turn!" cried Phil sharply.
The girl was powerless to do so, while the ringmaster, being on the opposite side of the ring, could be of no a.s.sistance to her.
"Turn!" shouted Phil, more loudly this time, giving a mighty spring in the direction of the falling woman.
CHAPTER IX
THE MULE DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF
The audience had half risen, believing that the girl would surely be killed. It did seem that it would be a miracle if she escaped without serious injury.
But the Circus Boy, his every faculty centered on the task before him, proposed to save her if he could.
He sprang up on the ring curbing, stretching both hands above his head as far as he could reach, bracing himself with legs wide apart to meet the shock.
It is not an easy task to attempt to catch a person, especially if that person be falling toward you head first. But Phil Forrest calculated in a flash how he would do it. That is, he would unless he missed.
It all happened in much less time than it takes to tell it, of course, and a moment afterwards one could not have told how it had occurred.
The Circus Boy threw both hands under Dimples" outstretched arms with the intention of jerking her down to her feet, then springing from the curbing with her before both should topple over.
His plan worked well up to the point of catching her.
But instantly upon doing so he realized that she was moving with such speed as to make it impossible for him to retain his balance.
Dimples was hurled into his arms with great force, bowling Phil over like a ninepin. Yet, in falling, he did not lose his presence of mind. He hoped fervently that he might be fortunate enough not to strike on a stake, of which there were many on that side of the ring.
"Save yourself!" gasped the girl.
Instead, Phil held her up above him at arm"s length. When he struck it was full on his back, the back of his head coming in contact with the hard ground with such force as to stun him almost to the point of unconsciousness. As he struck he gave Dimples a little throw so that she cleared his body, landing on the ground beyond him.
The girl stretched forth her hands and did a handspring, once more thorough master of herself, landing gracefully on her feet.
But Phil had undoubtedly saved her life, as she well knew.
Without giving the slightest heed to the audience, which was howling its delight, Dimples ran to the fallen lad, leaning over him anxiously.
"Are you hurt?" she begged, placing a hand on his head.
"I--I guess not," answered Phil, pulling himself together a little. "I"ll get up or they"ll think something is the matter with me."
"Let me help you."
"No, thank you," he replied, brushing aside the hand she had extended to him. But his back hurt him so severely that he could only with difficulty stand upright.
Phil smiled and straightened, despite the pain.
At that Dimples grasped him by the hand, leading him to the concourse facing the reserved seats, where she made a low bow to the audience; then, throwing both arms about Phil, she gave him a hearty kiss.
Thunders of applause greeted this, the audience getting to its feet in its excitement. Had it been possible, both the boy and Miss Dimples would have been borne in triumph from the ring.
"Come back and sit down while I finish my act," she whispered.
"You"re not going to try that again, are you?" questioned Phil.
"Of course I am. You"ll see what a hit it will make."
"I saw that you came near making a hit a few moments ago,"
answered the lad.
"There, there; don"t be sarcastic," she chided, giving him a playful tap. "If you feel strong enough, please help me up."
Phil did so smilingly; then he retired to his place by the center pole, against which he braced his aching back.
"Turn after you have gotten over the rough spot," he cautioned her.