CHAPTER XIV SOMEBODY GETS LOST

hehorsesstopped. "That'snothing!Youwaittillyouseethebarebackridingandthe'acrobaticexercises,'"saidBen,quotingfromtheplay-bill,withtheairofonewhoknewallaboutthefeatstocome,andcouldneverbesurprisedanymore. "Whatare'crowbackicexercises'?"askedBilly,thirstingforinformation. "Leapingandclimbingandtumblingyou'llseeGeorge!whatastunninghorse!"andBenforgoteverythingelsetofeasthiseyesonthehandsomecreaturewhonowcamepacingintodance,upsetandreplacechairs,kneel,bow,andperformmanywonderfulorgracefulfeats,endingwithaswiftgallopwhiletheridersatinachaironitsbackfanninghimself,withhislegscrossed,ascomfortablyasyouplease. "That,now,issomethinglike,"andBen'seyesshonewithadmirationandenvyasthepairvanished,andthepinkandsilveracrobatscameleapingintothering. Theboyswereespeciallyinterestedinthispart,andwelltheymightbeforstrengthandagilityaremanlyattributeswhichladsappreciate,andtheselivelyfellowsflewaboutlikeIndia-rubberballs,eachtryingtooutdotheother,tilltheleaderoftheacrobatscappedtheclimaxbyturningadoublesomersaultoverfiveelephantsstandingsidebyside. "There,Sir,how'sthatforajump?"askedBen,rubbinghishandswithsatisfactionashisfriendsclappedtilltheirpalmstingled. "We'llrigupaspring-boardandtryit,"saidBilly,firedwithemulation. "Where'llyougetyourelephants?"askedSam,scornfully,forgymnasticswerenotinhisline. "You'lldoforone,"retortedBen,andBillyandBabjoinedinhislaughsoheartilythatarough-looking,manwhosatbehindthem,hearingalltheysaid,pronouncedthema"jollyset,"andkepthiseyeonSancho,whonowshowedsignsofinsubordination. "Hullo,thatwasn'tonthebill!"criedBen,asaparti-coloredclowncamein,followedbyhalfadozendogs. "I'msogladnowSanchowilllikeit.There'sapoodlethatmightbehisowntydontybrother—theonewiththeblueribbon,"saidBab.beamingwithdelightasthedogstooktheirseatsinthechairsarrangedforthem. Sanchodidlikeitonlytoowell,forbescrambledoutfromundertheseatinagreathurrytogoandgreethisfriendsand,beingsharplychecked,satupandbeggedsopiteouslythatBenfounditveryhardtorefuseandorderhimdown.Hesubsidedforamoment,butwhentheblackspaniel,whoactedthecanineclown,didsomethingfunnyandwasapplauded,Sanchomadeadartasifbentonleapingintotheringtooutdohisrival,andBenwasforcedtoboxhisearsandputhisfeetonthepoorbeast,fearinghewouldbeorderedoutifhemadeanydisturbance. Toowelltrainedtorebelagain,Sancholaymeditatingonhiswrongstillthedogactwasover,carefullyabstainingfromanyfurthersignofinterestintheirtricks,andonlygivingasidelongglanceatthetwolittlepoodleswhocameoutofabaskettorunupanddownstairsontheirfore-paws,dancejigsontheirhind-legs,andplayvariousprettyprankstothegreatdelightofallthechildrenintheaudience.Ifeveradogexpressedbylookandattitude,"Pooh!Icoulddomuchbetterthanthat,andastonishyouall,ifIwereonlyallowedto,"thatdogwasSancho,ashecurledhimselfupandaffectedtoturnhisbackonanunappreciativeworld. "It'stoobad,whenheknowsmorethanallthosechapsputtogether.I'dgiveanythingifIcouldshowhimoffasIusedto.Folksalwayslikeit,andIwaseversoproudofhim.He'smadnowbecauseIhadtocuffhim,andwon'ttakeanynoticeofmetillImakeup,"saidBen,regretfullyeyinghisoffendedfriend,butnotdaringtobegpardonyet. Moreridingfollowed,andBabwaskeptinabreathlessstatebythemarvellousagilityandskillofthegauzyladywhodrovefourhorsesatonce,leapedthroughhoops,overbannersandbars,sprangoffandonatfullspeed,andseemedtoenjoyitallsomuchitwasimpossibletobelievethattherecouldbeanydangerorexertioninit.Thentwogirlsflewaboutonthetrapeze,andwalkedonatightrope,causingBabtofeelthatshehadatlastfoundherspherefor,youngasshewas,hermotheroftensaid, "Ireallydon'tknowwhatthischildisfitfor,exceptmischief,likeamonkey." "I'llfixtheclothes-linewhenIgethome,andshowMahowniceitis.Then,maybe,she'dletmewearredandgoldtrousers,andclimbroundlikethesegirls,"thoughtthebusylittlebrain,muchexcitedbyallitsawonthatmemorableday. Nothingshortofapyramidofelephantswithaglitteringgentlemaninaturbanandtopbootsonthesummitwouldhavemadeherforgetthisnewandcharmingplan.Butthatastonishingspectacle,andtheprospectofacageofBengaltigerswithamanamongthem,inimminentdangerofbeingeatenbeforehereyes,entirelyabsorbedherthoughtstill,justasthebiganimalswentlumberingout,apealofthundercausedconsiderablecommotionintheaudience.Menonthehighestseatspoppedtheirheadsthroughtheopeningsinthetent-coverandreportedthataheavyshowerwascomingup.Anxiousmothersbegantocollecttheirflocksofchildrenashensdotheirchickensatsunsettimidpeopletoldcheerfulstoriesoftentsblownoveringales,cagesupsetandwildbeastsletloose.Manyleftinhaste,andtheperformershurriedtofinishassoonaspossible. "I'mgoingnowbeforethecrowdcomes,soIcangetalifthome.IseetwoorthreefolksIknow,soI'moff"and,climbinghastilydown,Samvanishedwithoutfurtherceremony. "Betterwaittilltheshowerisover.Wecangoandseetheanimalsagain,andgethomealldry,justaswellasnot,"observedBen,encouragingly,asBillylookedanxiouslyatthebillowingcanvasoverhishead,theswayingpostsbeforehim,andheardthequickpatterofdropsoutside,nottomentionthemelancholyroarofthelionwhichsoundedratherawfulthroughthesuddengloomwhichfilledthestrangeplace. "Iwouldn'tmissthetigersforanything.See,theyarepullingintheca