ON TO GLORY
When they came back the keeper was leading Marshal Foch with a rope, and
the fly paper was gone from his head and his body. Harry Donnelle said they
melted the stickum with gasoline and that it didn't hurt the leopard much.
He said it came off easier than a porous plaster does. You bet I was glad;
because that leopard and I were kind of friends. Anyway I would have been
glad. The keeper had a pistol but I guess it was just safety first because
the animal walked along by him just as meek as could bet and walked right
up the slanting board into the wagon. I guess he knew that keeper all
right. His eyes were kind of half shut and all sticky like, and his nice
fur was all stuck up but the men said they could fix him all right as soon
as they had time.
I just couldn't help saying "So long, Marshal Foch, I'm sorry I had to do
it; see you later." He just walked back and forth in the cage, awful
graceful, as if he was looking to see if everything was all right, and
maybe he was glad to get back, hey?
Then Mr. Costello said in his big loud voice, just as if he was making a
speech, "I am going to give the people of Kingston, _absolutely free,_ an
opportunity to view for the first time in America, the dauntless young
hero of two continents." I don't know why he said two continents, because
I only live on one, and believe me, that's enough.
But most everything he said had _two continents_ in it. Harry said it was a
wonder he forgot Mars and the Moon. "The dauntless young hero scout, pride
of two continents," that's what he said. Oh boy, didn't I blush I And
didn't Harry Donnelle laugh!
"May I ask your name, sir?" Mr. Costello said. I told him, "Roy Blakeley."
"I would like you to ride with Marshal Foch in the parade," he said, "and
later at the performances. I think I will call you _Roy the Redoubtable;_
or perhaps _Blakeley the Bold_ would be better. This is an opportunity of
a lifetime to the people of Kingston. It will rejoice the scouts of two
continents to see their intrepid young hero riding in triumph with the
savage, man eating, beast that he subdued."
Harry said, "That would be delightful. What do you say, Roy?"
I said, _"Good night,_ I won't have to ride in the cage with him, will I?
I like him all right, but--but we're not-kind of, we're not yet well
acquainted yet."
Mr. Costello said, "You will ride on the seat outside, as his triumphant
conqueror. You will out rival the gladiators of ancient Rome. You will
listen to the plaudits of the multitude. Are you able to look fierce? Just
a little fiery? Just a little suggestion of fearless courage and intrepid
power in your eyes? Something like _this_." Oh boy, he gave me a look that
nearly knocked me over.
Harry said, "Try it, Roy."
I looked as fierce as I could, and all the fellows broke out laughing.
"That will be fine," Mr. Costello said; "just a little glance of the eye to
strike terror as you look from left to right. Our advance agent will do the
rest. There is not much time, but he will see that the people are advised
of their opportunity. The boys of Kingston will thrill with pride and
glory. Step up to the seat, my young friend." I said, "I don't believe I
can look fierce enough, honest I don't."
Harry Donnelle was just sitting there on the fence laughing so hard I
thought he'd fall off.
All of the fellows began guying me and saying I was a fool to be scared and
that they wished they had the chance. But gee whiz, I was never part of a
circus before, and I didn't want to sit way up on the top of that fancy
wagon and just look fierce. I bet you wouldn't, either.
Pretty soon we were driving away and Mr. Costello looked awful big sitting
there beside me. He kept cracking his whip all the time.
"So long, see you at the parade!", the fellows shouted.
"Don't get nervous," Harry called.
"I should worry," I called back; "I don't care what becomes of me now."
They had big red shutters with gold designs to cover up the cage so no one
could see Marshal Foch, and the keeper sat on the step in back. Oh boy,
how that Mr. Costello did drive; and lie could crack the whip so it sounded
like a rifle going off.
Pretty soon we came pell-mell into Kingston and I could see the circus
posters in all the store windows and on the fences. The pictures of Mr.
Costello looked just like him, kind of brave and bold like, and he always
had a whip in his hand. I guess he slept with that whip under his pillow,
hey?
While we were passing along one of the streets, a half a dozen scouts
shouted to me and I gave them the scout salute.
Mr. Costello said, "Those intrepid young gentlemen will be proud of their
young comrade; the whole city will do you honor for your daring and
dauntless deed." I noticed that whenever he strung together a lot of words
they all began with the same letter. It sounded fine, too.
I said, "I know one thing, and that is I'd like to have a rich, red, rare,
racy, raspberry soda, just now."
"You will soon be able to regale your ravenous and rapacious capacity among
the freaks of two continents who will accord you a warm and wonderful
welcome," he said.
Gee, you couldn't beat him at it, that was one sure thing.
Illustration #2 "I gave them the scout salute."