That night he told Old Ben the events of the day, and expressed
the hope that he might acquit himself creditably when he made his
first appearance on the following day.
Ben sat thoughtfully for some time, and then, making all the
preparations which Toby knew so well signified a long bit of advice,
he said: "Toby, my boy, I've been with a circus, man an' boy, nigh
to forty years, an' I've seen lots of youngsters start in just as
you re goin' to start in tomorrow; but the most of them petered
out, because they got to knowin' more 'n them that learned 'em
did. Now, you remember what I say, an' you'll find it good advice:
whatever business you get into, don't think you know all about it
before you've begun. Remember that you can always learn somethin',
no matter how old you are, an' keep your eyes an' ears open, an'
your tongue between your teeth, an' you'll amount to somethin', or
my name hain't Ben."
XVI: TOBY'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE RING
When the circus entered the town which had been selected as the
place where Toby was to make his debut as a circus rider the boy
noticed a new poster among the many glaring and gaudy bills which
set forth the varied and numerous attractions that were to be found
under one canvas for a trifling admission fee, and he noticed it
with some degree of interest, not thinking for a moment that it
had any reference to him.
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