Lord, in as kindly a tone as if he were
conferring some favor on the boy.
If Toby had dared to, he would have rebelled then and there and
refused to go; but, as he hadn't the courage for such proceeding,
he walked meekly into the tent and toward the ring.
XIV: MR. CASTLE TEACHES TOBY TO RIDE
When Toby got within sight of the ring he was astonished at what
he saw. A horse, with a broad wooden saddle, was being led slowly
around the ring; Mr. Castle was standing on one side, with a long
whip in his hand; and on the tent pole, which stood in the center
of the ring, was a long arm, from which dangled a leathern belt
attached to a long rope that was carried through the end of the
arm and run down to the base of the pole.
Toby knew well enough why the horse, the whip, and the man were
there, but the wooden projection from the tent pole, which looked
so much like a gallows, he could not understand at all.
"Come, now," said Mr. Castle, cracking his whip ominously as Toby
came in sight, "why weren't you here before?"
"Mr. Lord just sent me in," said Toby, not expecting that his excuse
would be received, for they never had been since he had arrived at
the height of his ambition by joining the circus.
"Then I'll make Mr. Job understand that I am to have my full hour
of your time; and if I don't get it there 'll be trouble between
us.
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