“Erika here,” said Dan, taking the arm of a girl rider, “will be your roommate when you join us.”
Erika was a very attractive young woman with lovely blond hair and big, blue eyes. She smiled at Nancy, saying:
“I thought I might give you some pointers when we’re alone, but from what Dan tells me, I doubt that you’ll need any.”
“I’m afraid Dan has built me up too much,” Nancy said. “But I’ll do my best. What’s first?”
Fortunately for the act, the lead horse, whose nose had been bruised, was all right otherwise and able to perform. She was the same size and build as Belgian Star, so when Nancy swung herself to the mare’s back, she almost felt as if she were riding Roberto’s thoroughbred.
“Now, don’t be nervous, Miss Drew,” Dan Webster encouraged her. “Just do those stunts I saw you performing over at Roberto’s and you’ll be all right.”
Despite his reassuring words, Nancy was a trifle tense. At first she went through the stunts rather stiffly, but when Erika reminded her to relax, the performance went much better.
Not only did Nancy show the onlookers the riding tricks Roberto had taught her, but she tried to imitate the girl who had been injured. The group of equestrians was enthusiastic.
“Well, what do you think?” Dan asked Rancoco.
“For a girl not reared in the circus, Miss Drew is remarkable,” the leader replied. “Even if she can’t join us permanently, I’d certainly be glad to take her on for a few days until we can get a replacement for Rosa.”
He walked over to Nancy and asked if she had ever ridden standing up with another person on a cantering horse.
“No, I haven’t.”
Rancoco asked if she would try it with him after watching another couple do the stunt. Nancy consented, and when they were ready, he said, “You go first.”
Nancy timed the rhythm of the horse, ran several steps across the ring, and hopped onto her mare’s back. A moment later Rancoco joined her. But as he touched her, Nancy lost her balance and off they both went!
“Not hurt, are you?” he said, helping her up. Nancy shook her head gamely. “Better luck next time,” he said with an encouraging smile.
Nancy had several more spills, but finally she was able to steady herself when Rancoco hopped up behind her.
“Fine, fine!” he praised her. “If you do your part as well tonight, everything will be okay. I’m going to have one of the others do a little solo work in place of Rosa.”
Nancy was glad to hear the equestrian’s decision. She had just about decided that everything was turning out well when Pietro came racing into the tent, greatly agitated.
“Kroon’s coming! He suspects something funny is going on. He’s in a fearful rage and says he’s going to dismiss all of you for double-crossing him!”
The riders were stunned and asked what the ringmaster meant. They had done no harm and yet in a few moments every one of them might be out of a job!
Nancy was sure that the trouble centered around her. Somehow, Kroon had found out that the young detective might join the circus. This did not suit his plans.
“Pietro, he must have found out about me,” Nancy whispered to the clown.
Pietro’s face was dark with anger. “I’m afraid so. Nancy, there’s a spy in this big top and I’m going to find out who he is!”
Before the clown could carry out his threat, Bess Marvin rushed into the tent. Seeing her in riding clothes gave Nancy an idea. Without waiting to hear why Bess had come, Nancy said to her quickly:
“Kroon’s coming in here any minute. He must have heard I’m trying out for a part in this act. He mustn’t see me. You’ll have to take my place!”
Nancy gave poor Bess no time to make a choice. Nancy dived behind some of the seats, just as the ringmaster walked in. He strode over to Bess.
“So you’re the girl who’s trying out, eh?”
“Why—uh, yes,” Bess replied.
“I thought somebody else was,” he said. Then, with a grunt, he added, “You don’t look much like a rider. Well, get up on the mare and let’s see what you can do.”