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Updated: May 11, 2025
Rodney Palmer said the boss canvasman might give me a chance to earn one." "Earn one? Earn one?" Mr. Sparling's voice rose to a roar again. "What in the name of Old Dan Rice do you think you've been doing?
The canvasman was too close to check his own speed. He fell over Phil, landing on his head and shoulders in the dirt. The lad was up like a flash. Larry was close upon him now, and with a snarl of rage launched a blow full at Phil Forrest's face. But he had not reckoned on the lad's agility, nor did he know that Phil was a trained athlete.
The boss canvasman ordered three of his men to get the trapeze performers' big net that lay in a heap near the ring nearest the dressing tent, for there were two rings now in the Great Sparling Combined Shows. They dragged it over as quickly as possible; then willing hands grabbed it and stretched the heavy net out. At Mr.
Chilled to the bone, wet through and through, this white-faced lad, with drooping lip and quickened breath, crouched there and waited for the heavy footstep and the brutal command of the canvasman who was to drive him forth into the darkness once more. He had watched his chance to creep into this coveted spot. When the men were called to work at the horse tent he found his chance.
The boss canvasman said he could fix it for ten, all right, and he blew a whistle, and the gang came back, and the boss said: "Bring a blanket and help this gentleman down;" so they brought a big piece of canvas, with handles all around it, and about a dozen fellows held it, and the rope man let pa down on the canvas, and unhitched the ring, and when pa was in the canvas he laughed and said: "Thanks, gentlemen, I guess I am mot much of a horseback rider," and then the fellows pulled on the handles of the canvas, and by gosh, pa shot up into the air half-way to the top of the tent, and when he came down they caught him in the canvas and tossed him up a whole lot of times until pa said: "O, let up, and make it $20."
Sparling leaned back and laughed heartily. "Between you, you boys will be the ruination of me. You take my mind off business so that I don't know what I'm about half of the time. But I can't get along without you. I'll look into this matter," he went on more gravely. "Tell the boss canvasman to send Larry and Bad Eye to me." "Yes, sir." The lads delivered the message. Mr.
"Do you think there is anything I could do to earn a ticket to the show today?" asked Phil. "Yes, there's most always something for a boy to do." "Whom do I ask about it?" "Go see the boss canvasman. I'll point him out to you as we go along." "Thank you. You want to see him, too, Teddy?" "No; I don't have to." "That's him over there. He's a grouch, but just don't let him bluff you.
Sparling was on the lot watching everything at the same time. This was the first time the tent had been pitched, and, as has been said before, most of the men were green at their work. Yet, under the boisterous prodding of the boss canvasman, the white city was going up rapidly and with some semblance of system.
Emperor apparently had not observed it, nor did he seem to see the red-headed canvasman striding his way. Mr. Kennedy, the keeper, was at the far end of the line sweeping off the baby elephant with a broom, while Phil and Teddy were sitting on a pile of straw back of Emperor discussing their experience the previous evening. "There's Red," said Teddy, pointing.
He recalled the profane respectfulness of the boss canvasman earlier in the day a condition which would have astonished that worthy beyond description if he had had the least idea that he was respectful. David's first week with the show was a trying one.
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