“Why, no.” Nancy was worried. “Will I have to pass Kroon’s inspection?”
Nancy experienced a great sense of relief when Erika said that the ringmaster never bothered to view the parades. The girls had just received their last fluffs of face powder when the warning gong sounded. They hurried off and swung onto the backs of their mounts. The band struck up, and a moment later the parade started.
Nancy had never been more excited and nervous in her life. Not only was it thrilling to be riding with the circus people, but a fear lurked in her mind that Hitch, still at large, might be hiding close by, ready to harm her or one of the other riders.
As Nancy came opposite the box where her father and Aunt Eloise were seated, she noticed to her delight that Hannah, Bess, George, and Ned were there also. They waved to her, but Nancy did not dare acknowledge the greeting. Kroon or one of his spies might be watching.
Finally the parade was over and the clown act began. As soon as they had finished their performance, Ringmaster Kroon entered the ring to announce the equestrian act.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “you are about to witness some of the world’s finest bareback riders. The Vascon family will perform the most daring stunts you have ever witnessed.”
Nancy, overhearing the announcement in the wings, smiled. Not only was she not a Vascon or related to any of the others, but not one of them was related to another! She wondered if the audience would think of them all as brothers and sisters.
The group of horses trotted in and took their places in the ring. The performance started, the mares cantering about rhythmically to the music. Singly, and together, the riders did their stunts.
In Box AA Mr. Drew and his friends gripped the arms of their chairs, their eyes riveted on Nancy. They could scarcely believe that she was actually a bareback rider in Sims’ Circus!
“Oh, she’s wonderful!” Bess exclaimed.
“Sh-h!” her cousin George warned her.
Nancy outdid herself. She made no mistakes and her performance was the best she had ever given. When Rancoco jumped up behind her on the mare and they cantered around the ring, he whispered enthusiastically:
“Superb, Miss Drew, superb!”
Pleased, Nancy smiled. The show went on without interruption. But just as one of the men riders began his solo number, there was a wild scream in the audience.
Turning, the equestrians saw a hard-thrown baseball whizzing from one of the exits directly at them!
The warning cry saved them from injury. Like lightning, each performer pulled his horse to the tanbark and lay down himself. The speeding ball sailed over their heads and landed beyond the ring.
The audience was divided in its reaction. Some were stunned. But many people thought it was part of the act and clapped loudly.
Their attitude helped to steady the nerves of the performers whose knees were shaking. They recovered themselves instantly and the performance went on.
Out of the corner of her eye, Nancy could see a commotion in the exit. Men were running after someone. Without being told, she was sure that the ball-throwing incident had been another of Hitch’s unwarranted acts of malicious mischief.
As soon as she and Erika reached their dressing room, Nancy announced that she was changing to street clothes.
“Where are you going?” her roommate asked.
“I’m not sure,” Nancy said, “but first, I’m going to the box where my father is.”
Erika warned her that she must be back for the finale because Kroon was always on hand for the closing pageant. Though he did not particularly notice the faces of each individual performer, he never failed to take a count of the number. If anyone were missing, his wrath was aroused.
“Please don’t let anything go wrong that might endanger our troupe,” she begged.
“I won’t,” Nancy promised. “Just how much time will there be before the final number?”
Erika glanced at the clock. “Two and a half hours.”
“I’ll be back in time,” said Nancy, and left the dressing room.
She asked Dan Webster whether the ball thrower had been captured and was told that he had escaped.