 I thought I'd stand here by the back door and see how you and Rags are getting along with a new trick. Well, did you like the way we worked? I sure did, Bumps. It was key. Yeah, all but the finish. I guess Rags got so proud of his new tricks, he got excited and he ran out of the ring before I did. Yeah, I just noticed that. My told Rags about it. Well, you're coming over to the wagon, Jerry. I want to get this makeup on. Yeah, I'll walk over with you. But I want to go over to the horse stand after a while and ride Splendor again. Whitey said I should ride him a little every day. Well, then you better run along now so you'll have some time of that favorite cold of yours for dinner. No use in your hanging around our wagon and watching me take off makeup if you've got a horse to train. Oh, I'm not training him yet. Whitey says he's got to be used to his bridal and saddle before I can start him out on any trick. I shouldn't wonder if Whitey's right. Splendor is still a youngster, you know what we call green. Yeah, I know, but he's smart. Sure is smart. His father and mother were mighty fine high school horses. You see, Jerry, horses are the same as humans. If we have pretty good parents, well, we turn out pretty good too. That's the way it is with race horses. If a colt's father was a real fast horse, then the colt turns out to be a real fast horse when he grows up. Yep. If a colt's father was a real fast horse, then the colt turns out to be a real fast horse when he grows up. Yep, that's right. Well, Whitey said as soon as Splendor gets used to taking some commands and feels easy when someone's riding him, then he'll be ready to learn some tricks. Will it Whitey tell you that Splendor might turn out to be a jumper? Yeah, he said Splendor's mother was one of the best jumpers ever was, but I don't think I could learn to jump with a horse. Oh, now don't say that, Jerry. Why, you can learn to do anything. Before I grow up. Sure. Say, I remember being with a small circus years ago, and there was a boy there, not more than 12 or 14 years old with the outfit that could do an awful lot of fancy riding. Well, and I guess I can too. Well, sure you can, Jerry. Hey. What is it, Jerry? Oh, where's Rage? Well, I didn't notice him run off. Rage! Rage! Rage! Here, Rage! Oh, there he is, Jerry. Oh, he's way over there by the side shows. You see him? Oh, yeah, and it looks like he's found something. See his tail wag? Yeah, well, you better run along now and see what he's got into. Okay, Bump. See you in the mess pan at dinner. All right. Goodbye, Jerry. Rage! Rage! What have you got? What is it, Rage? What are you working at? Oh, yeah. All out of breath. What have you got there, Rage? Look out. Hey, it's a snake. Get away from there, Rage. Help! Help! Somebody! A snake is loose. What's the other noise out there? A big snake is loose. Looks like he just crawled out from under the tent. A snake is loose? I think you'd better run for one of the guards. Hurry. Well, I'll take care of it. Where is he? Right here, see? Oh, you naughty snake. You are bad to run away. Is it your snake? It is. Oh, certainly. You're lead of the snake charmer, aren't you? Mm-hmm. And you're Jerry. And this is your dog, Rage. That's right. Well, better hold your dog. He looks like he might go off to my bad boy that runs away and is forever calling out of his basket. All right. Stop now. Come here. Now you'll be good. Hey, this is the only snake I ever owned that likes to get out in gold places. Isn't he dangerous? I mean, won't he buy? Oh, it wouldn't matter if he did. You see, his things have been taken out. That's where they keep the poison, isn't it? That's right. And no poison, no damage. But I guess it is not good business to let him around loose anyway. No, I should say not. A lot of people get scared to death if they saw a big snake like him. Well, I suppose he is a big, dangerous snake to people that do not know him. But to me, he's a... Well, he's a big baby. The idea, getting out of your basket. I guess I will have to tie a bell on you so I know where you are. That's a good idea, leader. Quiet, Rage. Well, I thank you, Jerry, for finding this bad boy of mine. It wasn't me who found him. It was Rage. Well, then, thank you. Smart little dog, aren't you? He's the smartest dog I ever saw. That's the boy, Jerry. Always stick up for him. Because he'll always stick up for you. Well, I guess I'll put this fellow back in his basket where he belongs. Can I come in and see the rest of your snakes? Sure, if you'd like to. But you'd better leave Rage outside the tent here. He might excite my pets. Okay. Now, Rage, you stay right here and wait for me. Come on, Jerry. Come on, Jerry. Oh, boy. So this is where you keep him, in these big baskets. Yes, Jerry. You see, when we are playing a stand, I keep them in their baskets. They get more air that way. But when they move, I put them in those special built rungs over there in the corner of the tent. How many snakes have you got? Only 16 this season. 16? That's a lot. Well, I've had as many as 30 at one time, Jerry. All big ones like these in the baskets, and even some bigger ones. I owned once the largest boa constructor in captivity. You did? Well, I better put my little runaway back in his basket. There you go. You stay put. You'll just have to wait until we get back to winter quarters before you can do any running around. Does he understand when you talk to him? Well, I don't know, Jerry. But I think they know a little something. Not as much as dogs, though. No, of course not. Dogs really understand. Dogs and horses, to my way of thinking, are the smartest. That's what I think, too. I'm going to teach Splendor some tricks pretty soon. Splendo? Who's Splendo? Oh, that's a little cold over at the horse tent. I guess you wouldn't know about him if he hadn't been over at the horse tent. No, I never get over there, Jerry. That reminds me. I better get over there right now. I want to take Splendor out for a little ride before dinner. Well, you come back sometime, anytime. And I'll tell you all about the snakes. Okay, I will. And thanks. Not at all, Jerry. And thanks to you and the eggs for finding that bad snake of mine. Well, goodbye. Come on, Ray. Well, fella, you missed it. I saw a whole lot of snakes. Great big ones, too. Yes, I did. Hurry up. Come on now. I won't have much time with Splendor before dinner. Now all right, then. Run ahead a little. Look, there's Whitey in front of the horse tent now. Whitey! Whitey! Well, hello, Jerry. Is it all right to take Splendor out for a little ride? Yeah, sure, Jerry. But you'll have to saddle him up yourself. I think you can do it. Sure, I can. But aren't you going to watch me ride him? Well, I'm afraid I can't just now, Jerry. I've got to go place an order for some oats. But come on in. I'll get the stuff together for you and we'll get Splendor out back. Okay. Here comes your rider, Splendor. Quiet, Rags. Now, you behave. Yes, Rags, old fella. You don't want to get Splendor excited. Hello, Splendor. Want to go for a little ride? Here's his bridle, Jerry. His saddle's right over here in the corner. All right, Whitey. I think I'd better give you a hand with his bridle, though. He may not take that bit so quickly. Take that rope hauler off and we'll slip this on. That's the boy. Nice, Splendor. Easy now. This won't hurt. Doing all right for a cold, Jerry. It's only natural for a youngster like Splendor to be shy from a bridling bit. I guess it would be kind of hard for us to get used to having a bit in our mouth. Well, I should hope so. That drive most folks plum crazy. Easy now, Splendor. Come on. Open up. Come on, boy. There we are. Now, there's no use you're shaking your head like that. Now, bridle stays on, so you might as well get used to it. How long should I ride him today, Whitey? Well, now, we don't want to overdo it, Jerry. Maybe you'd better just walk him around for a while and then try him out on turns. If he takes the commands okay, try shorter turns. You might even trot him a little bit. Don't let him gallop if you can help it. But you're going to be a lot of fun when I can start him out on some little tricks. And it'll bring you a lot of satisfaction when you know there's a view that showed him how to perform. You know, Jerry, horses can be awful smart, but they don't learn tricks by themselves. Whitey? Yes, Jerry. Do you think maybe I'll turn out to be a trick rider someday? Well, that's hard to say. You might. Well, I'm sure me. You was once with a circus where they had a boy as old as me to do all sorts of fancy trick riding. Well, I've heard tell of things like that myself. You know, I once knew a boy that was a pretty good rider when he was only six years old. You did? And he rode the horse bareback. No fooling. I sure did. What do you mean I sure did? Well, that boy was me, Jerry. Oh, why do you mean that? Yes, sir. I was brought up on a farm, Jerry, and I got a lot of early training with horses. I started to love the critters when I was only one year old. It was on my birthday, my first birthday, and my father set me up in an old roon mare to have my picture taken. Really? Yes, sir. And I cried something off of it when they took me down off that horse. I guess I was a pretty sight to see with little or no hair on my head, a long, white, lacy dress on and perched up on an old work horse crying my eyes out. I'll bet that was funny. How come you started with the circus? Oh, well, now that's a long story, Jerry. It was a long time. You remind me someday when there isn't a lot to do. I'll tell you the whole story from start to finish. Did you run away and join the circus? No, don't try to get me started. I had a great hand at digging up memories and telling about them. When I get to talking about my boyhood days, there's no stopping me. I haven't got time now. Besides, you've got to get busy with Splendor. Come on, let's take him out back. Okay. Come on, Splendor. You think you can get that saddle on without any help? Oh, sure I can. The splint strap, good and tight. Now, you don't want that saddle to slip. Yeah, I know. I'll get it tied. Well, I've got to run along now, Jerry. When you get through with Splendor, take off the bridle and saddle and tie him up again. Okay, one. Now, you be careful now. All right. I'll see you later. Okay, goodbye. Whoa, Splendor. Now, let's put the saddle on. We'll still now. We've got to tighten the splint strap now. Now, you know this won't hurt you. Let me get it good and tight now. Oh, Splendor. I can't get it as tight as Whitey did, but I guess that'll hold it all right. Besides, I'm not heavy enough to make the saddle slip. I'm going to get up in the saddle now, Splendor. We'll reel still. Oh, Splendor. How can I get up on you if you keep moving around like that? Now, if I go there. Now, let me get the reins. There we are. Okay, let's go. Giddy up, Splendor. Easy boy. Whoa, slower. Wait. Splendor, that's the way. You're learning fast. Whoa, Splendor, you're not so fast. Take it easy. Hey, wait a minute, Splendor.