The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-03
CHAPTER III.
RY BAXTER MASON.

CHAPTER III.
Ringmaster Knapp. who had been
standing almost directly between the
two trapezes, saw the boys falling his
way. The clown was also underneath,
and when he saw the boys falling he
imagined they would strike and kill
him, so he started to run out of the
way of harm. The ringmaster did the
| same thing.
Unfortunately, each started in the
wrong direction. The ringmaster ran
| towards the clown and the clown ran
towards the ringmaster.
The two men met exactly where the
boys were sure to strike.
Bang went their heads with a crash.
Back went the ringmaster, back went
the clown.
And there they sat, well night scared
| into fits.
The ringmaster looked at the clown
and the clown looked at the ringmaster.
while down came the boys at fright
full speed.
Woo landed lightly with his feet on
the head of the clown, and there he
stood well balanced. Willie's feet
struck the head of the ringmaster,
whose neck seemed to have been driv-
en- into his body by the force of the
blow. For just a few seconds the boys
stood on the heads of the showmen,
then they jumped off, turning back
somersaults all the way, out of the cir
Gle and into the dressing room.
The showmen Rugged each other to
think what a great thing they had
done in getting the boys, but their eyes
| opened wide when Woo slipped up to
Capt. Weber with this remark:
Captain, Willie and l would like
very much to take the wild animals
into the big tent and give little exhi-
bition. May WEI"
Capt. Webber's mouth opened wide.
But, my boy, it takes a man to care
for such terrible beasts. / have spent
many years at it, and often am afraid
| of them when they get into an ugly
temper" said the trainer.
Woo spoke up quickly: "Oh, yes, we
do. We can make them do as we
please. Only give us a chance to show
what we can do and we will give you
| a big surprise
From the menagerie came answering
roars, which made everybody look in
that direction, and what they saw was
enough to almost freeze their blood.
Running from the menagerie into the
main tent were four camels, two gi-
RATES.. four deer, the sacred cow and
| two pretty zebras.
Woo and Willie jumped to the backs
of the zebras and started at gallop,
followed by all the other creatures. 1t
was a parade such as is seldom seen
and made a beautiful sight.
AS the boys were riding around and
around as fast as the zebras could go,
Woo called to his companion:
Say, Willie, how do you like this
sort of thing?'
Its the best fun 1 ever had" the
lad replied.
But the best is still to come" Woo
continued, "and when it does arrive you
will see something no human being has
ever seen before"
What is it ?" said Willie, who had by
this time forgotten almost everything
but the animals. He had arrived al
| such a. state of mind that he would
hardly have been surprised at any
thing.
II haven't time to tell you,'' Woo an
swered, but there will be a hot tins
here in this tent before long. Now JUS
keep your eyes open and look.
He waved a signal, and, looking II
the direction of Woo's hand the boy
from Treetown saw something thai
made him have another little fright II
spite of the fact that he was protected
by a fairy.
From the door leading to the tent oc
cupied by the animals were running the
rhinoceros. the hippopotamus and two
grizzly bears.
Straight they came dashing into thu
ring. They at once joined the strange
procession. and faster went the roaring
bowling, behaving and braying mol
of beasts.
Are any more animals coming out?'
Willie asked in an anxious tone.
Certainly" his companion replied. g.
think the entire menagerie will be herr
in a minute or less"
And sure enough it was.
With tremendous leaps and bounds
came the lions and the tigers in thu
lead, followed by all the other beasts
and every one was letting out the mos
unearthly noise possible.
The very tent shook as the menagerit
poured into the round space. which b.
this time was fairly alive with beasts
from every part of the world. And il
among all this rode the two boys, coo
and calm in spite of the fact that they
might at any moment be chewed t
pieces by the man-eating brutes.
At wave of Woo's hand the lions
with mighty leaps, bounded to thu
backs of the elephants and were close
ly followed by the leopards, tigers ahC
hyenas, while the clumsy bears climbed
slowly UP to the bumps of the camels
| 1870
extraordinary performances, leapinl
from the back of one animal to anothe
and even over the high heads of thu
mute giraffes
All this time the people seemed fright
ened almost to death. Seeing that h
might scare some of them into fits Wo,
and Willie jumped from their zebra
and stood with hands held in the air
Instantly the awful noises ceased, ant
at a wave of the hands each and every
animal turned tail and silently wen
back to his or her place of confinement
Ringmaster Knapp, the burly Mr.
Rice and the lean and hungry Captain
Weber ran over to the boys and begar
to talk at once.
What do you mean by this?" Mr.
Price yelled in a hoarse voice as h
clutched Willie by the collar and shool
him.
, How dare you do such a thing p
snapped out Captain Weber. as h
grabbed Woo.
Now, see here" and Woo Wang CAV,
Captain Weber poke that threw hin
off his feet and sent him sprawling OF