Painted clowns were keeping the audience in a roar by their funny leaps from the springboard to the mat, while the supple acrobats were doing doubles and singles through the air, landing gracefully on the mat as a round off.
The showman's first inquiring look was in search of Teddy Tucker.He soon made the lad out.Teddy was made up as a fat boy with a low, narrow-brimmed hat perched jauntily on one side of his head.There was drollery in Teddy's every movement.His natural clownish movements were sufficient to excite the laughter of the spectators without any attempt on his part to be funny, while the lad kept up a constant flow of criticism of his companions in the act.
But they had grown to know Teddy better, by this time, and none took his taunts seriously.
"That boy can leap, after all," muttered Mr.Sparling."I thought he would tumble around and make some fun for the audience, but I hadn't the least idea he could do a turn.Why, he's the funniest one in the bunch."Teddy was doing funny twists in the air as he threw a somersault at that moment.In his enthusiasm he overshot the mat, and had there not been a performer handy to catch him, the lad might have been seriously hurt.
Mr.Sparling shook his head.
"Lucky if he doesn't break his neck! But that kind seldom do," the owner said out loud.
Now the helpers were bringing the elephants up.Two were placed in front of the springboard and over these a stream of gaudily attired clowns dived, doing a turn in the air as they passed.Teddy was among the number.