"Hard as a keg of nails, but I hope not quite so stiff,"
laughed Phil.

"What you been working at?"

"Rings, mostly. We've done some practicing on the trapeze.
What did you do all winter?"

"Me? Oh, I joined a team that was playing vaudeville houses.
I was the second man in a ring act. Made good money and saved
most of it. Why didn't you join out for the vaudeville?"

"We spent our winter at school," answered Phil.

"That's a good stunt at that. In the tank town, I suppose?"
grinned the red-haired boy.

"You might call it that, but it's a pretty good town, just the
same," replied Phil. "I saw many worse ones while we were out
last season."

"And you'll see a lot more this season. Wait till we get to
playing some of those way-back western towns. I was out there
with a show once, and I know what I'm talking about. Where are
you berthed?"

"I don't know," answered Phil. "Where are you?"

"Car number fourteen. Haven't seen the old man, then?"