{{huckfp192.jpg}}

how soon you are going to need it, away from home and amongst strangers, that

way. You can't be too careful. I ain't opposed to spending money on circuses,

when there ain't no other way, but there ain't no use in wasting it on them.

It was a real bully circus. It was the splendidest sight that ever was, when

they all come riding in, two and two, a gentleman and lady, side by side, the

men just in their drawers and under-shirts, and no shoes nor stirrups, and resting

their hands on their thighs, easy and comfortable -- there must a' been twenty of

them -- and every lady with a lovely complexion, and perfectly beautiful, and

looking just like a gang of real sure-enough queens, and dressed in clothes that

cost millions of dollars, and just littered with diamonds. It was a powerful fine

sight; I never see anything so lovely. And then one by one they got up and

stood, and went a-weaving around the ring so gentle and wavy and graceful, the

men looking ever so tall and airy and straight, with their heads bobbing and

skimming along, away up there under the tent-roof, and every lady's rose-leafy

dress flapping soft and silky around her hips, and she looking like the most love-

liest parasol. ssssssssss

And then faster and faster they went, all of them dancing, first one foot stuck

out in the air and then the other, the horses leaning more and more, and the

ring-master going round and round the centre-pole, cracking his whip and

shouting "hi! -- hi!" and the clown cracking jokes behind him; and by-and-

by all hands dropped the reins, and every lady put her knuckles on her hips and

every gentleman folded his arms, and then how the horses did lean over and

hump themselves! And so, one after the other they all skipped off into the ring,

and made the sweetest bow I ever see, and then scampered out, and everybody

clapped their hands and went just about wild.

Well, all through the circus they done the most astonishing things; and all

the time that clown carried on so it most killed the people. The ring-master

couldn't ever say a word to him but he was back at him quick as a wink with the

funniest things a body ever said; and how he ever could think of so many of

them, and so sudden and so pat, was what I couldn't noway understand. Why,

I couldn't a thought of them in a year. And by-and-by a drunk man tried to

get into the ring -- said he wanted to ride; said he could ride as well as anybody

 [192]