“I reckon it’s a kind of mother-love,” Jake said. “When an elephant has no child of her own, she often looks round for some animal to adopt. Some elephants get fond of cats. There was a cat in one circus used to curl up every night beside her elephant friend. The only animal an elephant fears is a mouse!”
Adam laughed out loud. “That’s just absurd!”
“It’s the truth,” Jake replied. “An elephant is mortally afraid of a mouse running up inside its trunk. I’m glad Sonda’s taken a fancy to Haki, though. It could lead to something.”
“To what?” Adam was mystified.
“It might lead to a turn together on the programme. That would be a real favourite with the crowds and Mr Wiggins wouldn’t half be pleased. Would you be willing, Adam?”
“I might, provided there was no danger to Haki,” Adam replied cautiously.
After that, Haki watched Sonda in the ring every day. When Sonda finished her act she always looked round for Haki. Adam led him up and the two animals touched trunk and nose in a friendly kiss. One day Adam held out a piece of sugar for Sonda at the same time that he gave Haki his. Sonda took it with delight. After that she always looked for her lump of sugar from Adam.
“Those two animals are half-way to be being trained together,” Jake said with satisfaction.
At the end of the week Mr Wiggins thought that Haki was sufficiently rehearsed to take part in the final animal parade every night.
“We’ll have to dress you up for it,” he told Adam. “You’ll need a kilt. I’ll send to the theatrical costumiers in Edinburgh to let us have one or two for you to try on. We can hire one till there’s time to get one made. We’ll need some trappings for Haki too, Jake. Got any in the caparison box?”
“Aye, there’s a tartan saddle somewhere – Royal Stewart, I think. Perhaps we can get Adam a matching kilt.”
“I’ll leave it to you to see them fitted out, Jake.”
“I’ll do that, Boss.”
All that week Sonda and Haki had been rehearsing a simple turn together to Bill’s great delight. Haki did his usual trick of following Adam when he played the bagpipes. This was no new thing to him but it was new to Sonda. Bill tried leading her round after Haki and Adam. At first she eyed the bagpipes dubiously. When the wail of the drones started up she looked distinctly unhappy. Then she watched Haki tripping lightly in time to the music. She watched him as he made the circuit. Then, somehow she got the message of the rhythm. First she began to sway, waving her trunk. Then, to everyone’s astonishment she began to pound her feet up and down in time to the music. At once Bill led her behind Haki. The two of them went marching along, Sonda following Haki. Haki’s little hooves hit the ground with the precision of a drummer and Sonda kept perfect time behind him with her great feet.
“Well!” Bill exclaimed. “We could train that pair to dance.”
“You’ve got an idea there, Bill. Just keep Haki and Sonda at it while I fetch the Boss. He must see this.”
Mr Wiggins watched the march-round with a critical eye.
“Not bad!” he declared at the end. Jake knew that from Mr Wiggins that was high praise.
“I think Sonda should wear a bit of tartan too to connect her in the public eye with Haki. The Scottish crowds will fall for that. Any suggestions, Bill?” Mr Wiggins asked.
Bill thought for a moment. “Didn’t the circus have some long tartan curtains once?”
“Aye, they’re in the property wagon,” Jake told him.
“I wonder if we could cut them lengthwise and join them up to make a big sash that would go round Sonda?”
“With a smaller one to go round Haki,” Jake suggested.
“They’ll need some stitching of course,” Bill said, looking at Jake.
Jake took up the cue at once. “I’ll ask the missus to get her sewing machine out right away.”
“Get on with it then,” Mr Wiggins said. “Can you manage it for tonight?”
“Aye, Boss!” Jake said with confidence.
“It might be a good idea to let Haki and Sonda lead the parade. An honour to Scotland, you know,” Mr Wiggins said.
When the Grand Parade took place that night, Adam stood ready with his bagpipes to lead it.
“Now, whatever you do, Adam, don’t turn and look at Haki,” Jake cautioned him. “Just keep marching and piping. You know he’ll follow all right.”
Adam nodded. His stomach seemed to be turning over. He kept swallowing hard, wondering if he’d be able to control his breath to blow the pipes.
Mr Wiggins, in shiny black top hat, pink hunting coat and white riding breeches, stood ready in the middle of the ring. He cracked his whip as a signal to start. Adam gripped the bag under his arm, started the drones and burst into ‘Scotland the Brave’. With his kilt swinging and the tartan ribbons flying on his bagpipes he advanced into the ring. Mr Wiggins swung his whip to point the way for Adam to begin his circuit. With high colour and pounding heart Adam stepped out. He could hear Haki’s little hooves beating out the rhythm behind him and the stamp-stamp of Sonda’s feet following. Behind Sonda came the liberty horses moving in beautiful time, with Ella riding the foremost. The other Shetland ponies drawing a cart full of chimpanzees came next, then the clowns tumbling and turning somersaults. Behind them marched the acrobats, trapezists and high-wire performers.
Adam, piping fit to burst his lungs, made two circuits of the ring, as Mr Wiggins instructed, before he led off the Parade. The applause from the audience was deafening. Haki took it all in his stride. Indeed, he looked rather pleased with himself.
Mr Wiggins said something to one of the clowns who came tumbling out of the ring. He dashed up to Bill and Adam.
“The Boss says ‘Can Haki and Sonda both take a bow?’ If they can you’re to bring them right back in the ring.”
“Sonda can bow. Can Haki?” Bill asked quickly.
“Yes. I’ve taught him that.”
“Come on, then! We’ll have a bash! Don’t bother playing your bagpipes. The band’s taken up the tune.”
The other performers drew their animals to one side to let Sonda pass.
“Well done, Haki! Just fine, Adam!” came from more than one. Only one person was not pleased. Willie Baxter snarled as Adam went past. He half lifted his whip as if meaning to give Haki a cut with it.
Adam seized his wrist. “You watch it, Willie Baxter, or I’ll deal with you.” He gave Willie a push out of his way, then he led Haki proudly into the ring. Bill followed with Sonda. The applause broke out loudly again. They took the centre of the ring. Adam held out a piece of sugar to Haki and then to Sonda, on the other side of him.
“Bow, Haki!” he said, giving a deep bow himself.
At the same moment Bill said, “Bow, Sonda!”
Haki touched the ground with his nose and Sonda went almost on to her knees.
“Now say goodnight to the people, Sonda!” Bill commanded.
This was an old trick of Sonda’s. She raised her trunk and trumpeted her farewell to the crowd. Hearing Sonda’s voice, Haki answered.
Then, greatly daring, Bill said loudly, “Kiss Haki goodnight, Sonda.”
Sonda faced round to Haki. The tip of her trunk touched Haki’s nose with great gentleness. Haki’s tongue flashed out. The crowd cheered and clapped.
“And now to bed!” Bill said firmly. “Wave to the people as you go, Sonda.” Under his breath he said to Adam, “Lead off now, Adam.”
Adam took Haki’s bridle and waved to the crowd as he made for the exit. Sonda followed, waving her trunk in a happy fashion. The band burst into ‘God Save the Queen’.
Jake met them as they came out of the ring. “Grand, lad, grand!” he said, shaking Adam by the hand. Ella was waiting in the long passage and gave Adam a hug and a kiss.
“I was right proud of you, lad!” she said.
Bill brought out Sonda. “Well done, Adam! I guess Haki and Sonda are going to be quite a turn together.
His heart full of joy, Adam
led Haki to his stall. They had made their début in the world of the circus.
9. Friends and Enemies
The circus stayed three weeks in Edinburgh, then went to Falkirk. Adam and Haki rehearsed constantly with Sonda, besides doing their short turn at the end of each programme. They were building up a longer act.
Bill introduced the ‘Merry Widow Waltz’ into their tunes. Facing each other, Haki and Sonda were taught to rise on their hind legs and pirouette. This was no new thing to Sonda who had been doing it in her own act for some time. Haki had to learn it. Adam taught Haki to rise on his hind legs by holding sugar high in the air at the end of a pair of tongs! Adam twirled the tongs about and Haki twisted too. By and by Haki recognized the upward gesture and the tune and rose automatically on his hind legs. He watched Sonda do her act. After that he imitated her. Soon Adam had only to lift and twirl his whip when the tune was played, to show what he wanted. The training was not done all at once. It took many weeks of patient tuition.
Haki taught Sonda a trick of his own invention. It had always been Haki’s habit to push his nose into Adam’s pocket to get the last lump of sugar out of the bottom. He would even seize the lining of the pocket between his teeth and pull it out to make sure the pocket was empty. Sonda watched Haki extract the last sugar cube several times. She thought she might as well take a turn at it herself. She edged round to Adam’s other side and dipped her trunk under the flap of his pocket. Out came the last piece of sugar from that pocket too, and with it the lining!
“Well, look at that!” Bill cired. “Leave those animals alone and there’s no knowing what mischief they’ll teach each other! We must put that in the act too, Adam, so always be sure you have a last lump of sugar in the other pocket for Sonda.”
Day by day, practice by practice, the whole act was built up.
In what little spare time he had, Adam got to know most of the circus company. Most of them were friendly people who made him welcome. There were the Vivaldis, Paulo, Marco and Maria, the Italian aerialists. They swung from their trapezes like monkeys and went flashing through the air with all the grace of tropical birds. They were cheerful, happy folk in spite of the tremendous risks they took in the dome of the Big Top. Paulo used to play the guitar on the steps of their wagon in the evening and Marco and Maria sang Italian songs together.
There were two clowns, Auguste and Joey. Auguste was always the smart alec in the ring, taking a rise out of Joey. Joey was the pathetic one who nearly always did everything wrong, but in the end always got his own back on Auguste. Out of the Big Top, with the grease paint cleaned off, they were two handsome lads, brothers and friends.
There was Leo the lion tamer. In the ring he held the lions in check by the power of his eye. Out of the ring he was a quiet, gentle person, noted for good turns.
All these people came along to Jake’s living-wagon for a cup of cocoa after the last performance. It was a brief, friendly gathering in which Adam was accepted as one of themselves. The Baxters never came near Jake’s wagon, though. Usually they retired to their own quarters. The Baxters trained the chimpanzees and the two ponies that drew the cart with the monkeys driving it.
“I’ll grant the Baxters are clever with the chimps,” Jake Bradley said. “But it’s just as well they don’t work with the lions.”
“I don’t like that chimp Cora,” Ella remarked. “She’s a sly one. She treats the other animals badly. It’s my belief Willie Baxter encourages her.”
Not long afterwards Adam went along to groom Haki ready for his performance. As he neared the stable he heard Haki whinnying with fear and clattering his feet. When Adam dashed into the stable there was Cora sitting astride Haki’s back and pulling at his black mane. Haki was half mad with terror, rearing and plunging as he tried to throw her off his back.
“Get down!” Adam shouted at the monkey.
A head appeared over the top of the partition. “Go on, Cora! Pinch him!” Willie Baxter encouraged her.
Cora needed little incitement. She pinched Haki’s neck hard. He squealed with fear. He had no means of fighting back at the strange creature which tormented him. Adam had, though. He gave Cora a quick whack on her ribs and snatched her from Haki’s back. She chattered with rage and tried to claw him. Adam flung her through the entrance to the stall and she fell in a heap in the passageway.
Willie Baxter came rushing round, his fists raised.
“How dare you strike my monkey!” he yelled, livid with temper.
“Next time she touches my pony I’ll take a whip to her,” Adam retorted savagely.
Cora was chattering on the ground, more angry than hurt.
“Take her away. You know she shouldn’t be here at all.”
“Are you telling me what I ought to do, Scottie?”
“Yes. Take that monkey to her cage!”
“Look, Scottie, I’ve had enough of your cheek coming here and sucking up to the Boss. He let you lead the Parade and I ought to have done that with the chimps. I ought to have had charge of that pony. I’ll make you wish you’d never joined the circus!”
Adam was not prepared for Willie Baxter’s rush. He had no time even to put his hands up to defend himself. Baxter landed a blow on Adam’s chest which sent him staggering backwards. His very teeth jarred in his head as he fell.
“Want any more, Scottie?” Willie Baxter sneered.
Adam rose to his feet, breathing hard. When Baxter saw the black anger in Adam’s face, he stepped backwards. He took a sudden run at Adam and lifted his foot to kick him. Adam was ready for him this time. He caught Baxter by the ankle and toppled him to the ground. Adam snatched a pitchfork used to fork hay into the mangers. When Baxter sat up Adam was standing in a menacing attitude.
“Get up!” Adam shouted at him. “Get up and fasten that monkey to the pole or I’ll let you have it!”
Baxter thought he meant business. He jumped to his feet and seized the light chain that was dangling from Cora’s collar. He hitched it round the post and secured it.
“Right! We don’t want any interruption, do we?” Adam said grimly. “Out into the passage now!”
The two boys faced each other in the wide, tented passage. Adam flung the pitchfork down among the hay.
“Now we’ll fight fair! Put your fists up, Baxter!” he yelled.
They flew at each other, Baxter hurled himself on Adam, battering at his ribs.
Adam had done some boxing at school and he had taken part in bouts with the trawlermen at their club. He knew at once that he must keep Baxter at the length of his arm. Baxter was much heavier than he was. If he got to in-fighting Adam might get the worst of it. Adam fought him off, nipped under Baxter’s fists and danced away from him. Baxter went after him savagely.
Adam stepped aside and landed a shrewd blow on the side of Baxter’s head. Once again he danced lightly backwards. If Baxter had weight, Adam had speed. Again Baxter rushed at him but Adam caught him a jab in the ribs which brought him up short. Baxter began to eye Adam more warily. If only he could get close to Adam he would give him a hiding. Adam had no intention of letting Willie Baxter get in close. He darted this way and that. The blows that Willie Baxter did manage to land glanced off Adam and did little harm. Willie’s breath came faster. He was not in good condition. If only he could grab hold of Adam and hold his arms to his sides. Then he might bring him to the ground. He pretended to hold back for breath but Adam did not rush in. He knew if Willie once got the hold of him there would be dirty fighting and he could expect no mercy.
Baxter stood hunched, glowering. “Come on, Scottie! Are you afraid?” he panted.
Adam laughed. “You come to me, Baxter! Have you got no breath for any more fight?” He dropped his hands slightly.
Baxter rushed at Adam, thinking he was off his guard. Adam’s fist shot out, a straight right to Baxter’s nose and a short quick jab to his midriff with his left. Baxter reeled backwards. Adam followed up the attack with blows to the ribs and the chin. Baxter managed to l
and a blow on Adam’s eye, but Adam was tough stuff. He shook his head, then hammered at his breathless adversary. Exhausted, all the fight beaten out of him, Baxter wobbled and sank to his knees.
Adam stood over him. “Want any more, Baxter?”
Willie could only shake his head. He knew when he was beaten.
“Then listen to me,” Adam said. “If ever you let your chimp touch my pony again, you’ll get what’s coming to you. You keep out of Haki’s stable!”
Willie Baxter lurched to his feet. “You wait, Scottie! I’ll be even with you for this!”
At that moment Jake came along the passage with Bill. Unbeknown to both boys they had watched the last part of the fight from the stalls of the liberty horses. Bill was for rushing in and stopping it, but Jake held him back. It was better that Adam should fight his own way at the circus. When it was plain that Willie had got the worst of it, Jake strode down the passage.
“What’s going on here?” he shouted. “Have you lads taken leave of your senses? You know the Boss doesn’t allow fighting.”
Just then he almost tripped over the chain that held Cora, who was cowering behind the bale of hay.
“What’s that chimp doing here?” he demanded. “What do you mean by bringing your monkey into the stable, Baxter? You know that’s against all the rules.”
Baxter looked at him sullenly.
“Why were you fighting, anyway?”
Both boys were silent; Baxter because he dare not tell that he had set the chimpanzee on to Haki; Adam from a code of conduct that would not let him be a tell-tale.
“Now, listen to me,” Jake said sternly. “You’d better go and get cleaned up. If this comes to the Boss’s ears he’ll make short work of both of you. He’s not over pleased with you and your ways as it is, Willie Baxter. A bonnie sight you look to go into the ring tonight! Take yourself off, and Cora too! If you bring her into the stables again, I’ll tell the Boss myself.”
Baxter unhitched Cora and shambled away.
Jake turned to Adam. “And you go see to that eye, Adam! It’ll be all the colours of the rainbow by the time tonight’s performance begins!”
Haki the Shetland Pony Page 9