entirely over it. He walked slowly over to one of the ropes and
grasped it in his thin, white hands.

"I---I can't go up, Mr. Jones," the chums heard him whisper to the
ringmaster.

"Yes, you can---and will, or I'll cut you with the whip!" was the
ringmaster's harsh answer, and he cracked his lash loudly.

"I---I'm not well enough yet---my head is dizzy," pleaded the young
acrobat.

"Up you go!" snarled the ringmaster, and cracked his whip in such a
fashion that the end of the lash took the young acrobat in the calf
of the leg, causing him to cry with pain.

"What an outrage!" whispered Snap, clenching his fists. "That
ringmaster ought to be cowhided."

Painfully the young acrobat started to pull himself up on the rope.
The ringmaster glared at him and then cracked his whip once more,
taking the young performer in the arm.

"Shame! shame!" cried Snap; and "Shame!" added the other boys
quickly.

"Shut up, you boys!" growled the ringmaster, turning quickly.

"Then let that boy alone," answered Snap loudly.