incenti, somewhat
doubtfully.

"Yes," answered Kit, confidently.

"It will be sufficient if you jump over one elephant," continued his
associate. "Then you can drop out."

"I can do better than that," said Kit.

"I don't know about that. My brother can only jump over two."

"You jump over three elephants."

"Yes; but I am the only one who can do it. It takes a good spring to
clear even two. It won't do to lose your head."

"Can I have a chance to rehearse?"

"Yes, I will speak about it."

"Then I will appear this evening."

"But if you fail you are likely to hurt yourself."

"I know that. That is why I would rather make the first trial in the
evening. The lights and the crowd will excite and help me."

Kit was not foolhardy in his undertaking, for he had already had some
practice in similar feats with his old teacher. Besides, he was
ambitious. In school his ambition had shown itself in his attempt to
eclipse his schoolfellows in scholarship. In the gymnasium he had ranked
first, and now that he had joined the circus he didn't like to be
assigned to a place in the rear.

Let me take the opportunity here to advise my young readers not to
imitate Kit in essaying dangerous parts. "Be bold, but not too bold!" is
a very good motto.

During the forenoon Kit found an opportunity to practice in the empty
tent, in order to settle the question whether he had lost any of his
old-time skill. The result was satisfactory, and renewed his confidence.

"I can do better before a tent full of spectators than when practicing
by myself," he decided.

The evening came.

Standing near the ticket seller half an hour before the show began, Kit
heard his name called.

Turning quickly he saw his friends of the previous day, Mayor Grant and
his daughter Evelyn.

"Good evening, my boy!" said the mayor cordially. "We have come to see
what you can do."

"Then I hope I shall do myself credit," said Kit, shaking hands with the
mayor and his daughter. "Have you engaged seats?"

"Not yet."

"Then let me select them for you."

"With pleasure. I am glad to have a friend at court."

Kit selected seats as near as possible to the ring where he was to
perform.

"These are splendid seats," said Evelyn. "How soon do you appear?"

"In a few minutes. I shall have to leave you now, but I will be back
after my first act."

"What a nice boy he is, papa!" said Evelyn.

"Yes; it is a pity he is attached to a circus."

"Why? Isn