Orion was once more lifted on Greased Lightning’s back, and the manager cracking his whip, the beautiful horse began to trot round and round the arena.  At first the creature went fairly quietly, and Orion managed to keep his seat.  His piteous white face, the black shadows under his eyes, his little trembling hands were noticed, however, by Susan.  She kept near on purpose and tried to encourage him by smiles and nods.  When he passed close to her he heard her hearty voice saying, “Well done, little chap!  You jest stick on and you’ll be as right as a trivet.”

A strangled sob by way of answer rose in Orion’s throat.  Alas! he knew only too well that he could not stick on.  Louder and faster grew the crack of the manager’s whip, and faster and fleeter trotted Greased Lightning.  It was impossible for Orion to keep his seat; he had nothing to cling to, nothing to hold on to.

“You will have to do all this before the company to-morrow,” called out the manager; “and now, no more of that easy sitting still.  You jest scramble to your feet and stand on the ’orse’s back.”

“I can’t!  I’ll be killed!” cried the child, whose face was white to his very lips.

Crack went the great whip.

“Stand up this minute, or you’ll have a taste of this about your legs,” said the man, in a brutal tone.

In deadly fear the little fellow struggled to his feet; he looked wildly round him, the horse trotted forward, the child fell on his face and hands and clutched hold of the black mane.  This enraged the spirited beast, who began to dance and curvet about, and the next moment, but for the speedy interference of Susan Jenkins, little Orion would have measured his length upon the floor.  Even as it was he was hurt and shaken, and lay weeping and trembling in her arms.

“Now, Susan, you jest listen to me,” said Holt, in an enraged voice.  “I aint a-goin’ to stand this sort of thing.  That little chap has got to learn his lesson or he don’t stay here; he is not a patch on his sister, but he shall learn his part.  I has it all arranged that them two children is to appear in public to-morrow, and the boy must help the gal.  The gal will do her work right well, but the boy must help her.  It’s the look of the two, and they so young, that I reckon on to fill the house.  I’m determined that a mite of that sort shan’t beat me.  He could have stood on the horse’s back if he had had a mind.  He has disobeyed me and he shall be punished.  You take ’im and lock ’im up in the black cage.”

The black cage was a terrible place, in which some of the fiercer animals were put from time to time to train them.  It really consisted of a huge box without windows, but with one or two small ventilating shafts in the door.  On rare occasions, when thoroughly enraged, the manager had been known to lock a refractory member of the troupe up there; but such a punishment had never been given to a child before.