shness. But Collins's
eyes had read health, vigour, and long life, as well as laughableness of
appearance and action in the long-eared hybrid.

Barney Barnato he was renamed that first day in the arena, when, also, he
received the surprise of his life. He did not dream of the spike in the
saddle, nor, while the saddle was empty, did it press against him. But
the moment Samuel Bacon, a negro tumbler, got into the saddle, the spike
sank home. He knew about it and was prepared. But Barney, taken by
surprise, arched his back in the first buck he had ever made. It was so
prodigious a buck that Collins eyes snapped with satisfaction, while Sam
landed a dozen feet away in the sawdust.

"Make good like that," Collins approved, "and when I sell the mule you'll
go along as part of the turn, or I miss my guess. And it will be some
turn. There'll be at least two more like you, who'll have to be nervy
and know how to fall. Get busy. Try him again."

And Barney entered into the hell of education that later won his
purchaser more time than he could deliver over the best vaudeville
circuits in Canada and the United States. Day after day Barney took his
torture. Not for long did he carry the spiked saddle. Instead, bare-
back, he received the negro on his back, and was spiked and set bucking
just the same; for the spike was now attached to Sam's palm by means of
leather straps. In the end, Barney became so "touchy" about his back
that he almost began bucking if a person as much as looked at it.
Certainly, aware of the stab of pain, he started bucking, whirling, and
kicking whenever the first signal was given of some one trying to mount
him.

At the end of the fourth week, two other tumblers, white youths, being
secured, the complete, builded turn was performed for the benefit of a
slender, French-looking gentleman, with waxed moustaches. In the end he
bought Barney, without haggling, at Collins's own terms and engaged Sammy
and the other two tumblers as well. Collins staged the trick properly,
as it would be staged in the theatre, even had ready and set up all the
necessary apparatus, and himself acted as ringmaster while the
prospective purchaser looked on.

Barney, fat as butter, humorous-looking, was led into the square of cloth-
covered steel cables and cloth-covered steel uprights. The halter was
removed and he was turned loose. Immediately he became restless, the
ears were laid back, and he was a picture of