wn, and try again," called Mr. Whippleby, who did not seem
to be much disconcerted by what had taken place, when he had in some
measure recovered his equanimity.

"No, I won't!" replied Noddy.

"Have you got enough, Mr. Arthur De Forrest?"

"I will give _you_ enough before you get through."

While this colloquy was going on, the manager appeared in the ring.
Whippleby laughingly told him what had happened, and he seemed to be
much amused by it; but the ring-master had certainly changed his tone at
the appearance of the "head man."

"Come, my boy, come down, and let me see how well you do your business,"
said the manager.

"I've had enough of it," replied Noddy, as he returned to the ring.
"I'm not a horse, and I'm not going to be treated like one."

"That's your initiation, my boy," said Whippleby. "We always try new
beginners in that way, to find out what they are made of."

"You will find out what I'm made of, if you hit me again with that
whip."

"I know now. You won't need any more, if you try to do what you are
told."

"I'm not going to be whipped, whether I try or not," added Noddy,
doggedly.

"You shall not be whipped, my boy," said the manager. "Now show me your
ground act."

The novice was about to comply,--for he had already come to the
conclusion that the "head man" would protect him,--when he saw two men
enter the tent. They did not belong to the company, and Noddy was quite
sure he had often seen them in Whitestone.

"We don't allow visitors in here now," said the manager.

"We come on business. There is a boy here that we want to find," replied
one of the men.

"You must leave the tent," said the manager, rather sharply.

"I am a constable, and there is a boy about here that I want."

"What's his name?"

"They call him Noddy Newman."

"What do you want of him?"

"That's my business," answered the constable, rudely. "The boy came into
the ring this afternoon during the show, and I suppose he belongs to the
company."

"That's the fellow!" exclaimed the other constable, pointing to Noddy,
who was trying to take himself off without being noticed.

"That's Arthur De Forrest," interposed the manager.

"No, it isn't; I've known him this five years," said the man who had
recognized the culprit.

Both of them walked towards Noddy, with the intention, apparently, of
laying violent hands on him; but the young gentleman in "trunk and
tights" was not prepared to yield up his personal li