There was no
response.
"Now where's he got to," grumbled Strong. He disappeared quickly
around the corner of the dressing tent, resolved to keep a sharp
lookout for Douglas.
Elverson was thrust from the tent soon after, spitting sawdust
and much discomfited by the laughing performers who followed him.
His knees almost gave way beneath him when Barker came out of the
ring, snapping his long, black whip.
"Get out of here, you bloke!" roared Barker. and Elverson "got."
No one had remembered to tell the groom that Polly was not to
ride to-night. So Bingo was brought out as usual, when their
"turn" approached.
"Take him back, Tom," Polly called from the entrance, when she
learned that Bingo was waiting, "and bring Barbarian. I'm not
going on to-night. Eloise is going to ride in my place."
This was the second time to-day that Bingo had been led away
without going into the ring. Something in his big, wondering
eyes made Polly follow him and apologise. He was very proud, was
Bingo, and very conscientious. He felt uneasy when he saw the
other horses going to their work without him.
"Never mind, Bingo," she said, patting his great, arched neck,
"we'll show 'em to-morrow." He rubbed his satiny nose against
her cheek.
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