"Well," drawled Teddy, "you know their act?"

"Yes."

"Throwing those peaked hats clear across the arena and catching
the hats on their heads, just like a couple of monkeys."

"I didn't know monkeys ever did that," smiled Phil.

"Well, maybe they don't. The trained seals do, anyhow."

Phil nodded.

"They--the Spaniards--were doing that the other day when I was
going out after my clown act. I had picked up the ringmaster's
whip, and as one of the hats went sailing over my head I just
took a shot at it."

"Took a shot at it?"

"Yes. I fired at it on the wing, as it were. Don't you
understand?" demanded the lad somewhat impatiently.

Phil shook his head.

"I hit it a crack with the ringmaster's whip and I hit the mark
the first shot. Down came the hat and it caught me on the nose."

"Then what did you do?"