the question was only asked
sarcastically, and not through any desire for information. In a few
moments Mr. Lord left him to attend to the booth alone, and went into
the tent, where Toby rightly conjectured he had gone to question Mr.
Castle upon the result of the lesson just given.

That night Old Ben asked him how he had got on while under the teaching
of Mr. Castle; and Toby, knowing that the question was asked because of
the real interest which Ben had in his welfare, replied,

"If I was tryin' to learn how to swing round the ring, strapped to a
rope, I should say that I got along first-rate; but I don't know much
about the horse, for I was only on his back a little while at a time."

"You'll get over that soon," said Old Ben, patronizingly, as he patted
him on the back. "You remember my words, now: I say that you've got it
in you, an' if you've a mind to take hold an' try to learn you'll come
out on the top of the heap yet, an' be one of the smartest riders
they've got in this show."

"I don't want to be a rider," said Toby, sadly; "I only want to get back
home once more, an' then you'll see how much it'll take to get me away
again."

"Well," said Ben, quietly, "be that as it may, while you're here the
best thing you can do is to take hold an' get ahead just as fast as you
can; it'll make it a mighty sight easier for you while you're with the
show, an' it won't spoil any of your chances for runnin' away whenever
the time comes."

Toby fully appreciated the truth of this remark, and he assured Ben that
he should do all in his power to profit by the instruction given, and to
please this new master who had been placed over him.

And with this promise he lay back on the seat and went to sleep, not to
awaken until the preparations were being made for the entree into the
next town, and Mr. Lord's harsh voice had cried out his name, with no
gentle tone, several times.

Toby's first lesson with Mr. Castle was the most pleasant one he had;
for after the boy had once been into the ring his master seemed to
expect that he could do everything which he was told to do, and when he
failed in any little particular the long lash of the whip would go
curling around his legs or arms, until the little fellow's body and
limbs were nearly covered with the blue-and-black stripes.

For three lessons only was the wooden upright used to keep him from
falling; after that he was forced to ride standing erect on the broad
wooden sa