r 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.

It was printed very much as follows:

MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX,

two of the youngest equestrians in the world, will perform their
graceful, dashing, and daring act entitled

THE TRIUMPH OF THE INNOCENTS!

This is the first appearance of these daring young riders together since
their separation in Europe last season, and their performance in this
town will have a new and novel interest.

See MADEMOISELLE JEANNETTE AND MONSIEUR AJAX

"Look there!" said Toby to Ben, as he pointed out the poster, which was
printed in very large letters, with gorgeous coloring, and surmounted
by a picture of two very small people performing all kinds of impossible
feats on horseback. "They've got someone else to ride with Ella today. I
wonder who it can be?"

Ben looked at Toby for a moment, as if to assure himself that the boy
was in earnest in asking the question, and then he relapsed into the
worst fit of silent laughing that Toby had ever seen. After he had quite
recovered he asked: "Don't you know who Monsieur Ajax is? Hain't you
never seen him?"

"No," replied Toby, at a loss to understand what there was so very funny
in his very natural question. "I thought that I was goin' to ride with
Ella."

"Why, that's you!" almost screamed Ben, in delight. "Monsieur Ajax means
you--didn't you know it? You don't suppose they would go to put 'Toby
Tyler' on the bills, do you? How it would look!--'Mademoiselle Jeannette
an' Monsieur Toby Tyler'!"

Ben was off in one of his laughing spells again; and Toby sat there,
stiff and straight, hardly knowing whether to join in the mirth or to
get angry at the sport which had been made of his name.

"I don't care," he said, at length. "I'm sure I think Toby Tyler sounds
just as well as Monsieur Ajax, an' I'm sure it fits me a good deal
better."

"That may be," said Ben, soothingly; "but you see it wo