`` Well , you see , father had a quarrel with old Smithers , and went off sudden last fall , just before tenting season ' was over . He told me he was goin ' to a great ridin ' school in New York and when he was fixed he 'd send for me . I was to stay in the museum and help Pedro with the trick business . He was a nice man and I liked him , and ` Melia was goin ' to see to me , and I did n't mind for awhile . But father did n't send for me , and I began to have horrid times . If it had n't been for ` Melia and Sancho I would have cut away long before I did . '' `` What did you have to do ? '' `` Lots of things , for times was dull and I was smart . Smithers said so , any way , and I had to tumble up lively when he gave the word . I did n't mind doin ' tricks or showin ' off Sancho , for father trained him , and he always did well with me . But they wanted me to drink gin to keep me small , and I would n't , 'cause father did n't like that kind of thing . I used to ride tip-top , and that just suited me till I got a fall and hurt my back ; but I had to go on all the same , though I ached dreadful , and used to tumble off , I was so dizzy and weak . '' `` What a brute that man must have been ! Why did n't ` Melia put a stop to it ? '' asked Mrs. Moss , indignantly . `` She died , ma'am , and then there was no one left but Sanch ; so I run away . '' Then Ben fell to patting his dog again , to hide the tears he could not keep from coming at the thought of the kind friend he had lost . `` What did you mean to do ? '' `` Find father ; but I could n't , for he was n't at the ridin ' school , and they told me he had gone out West to buy mustangs for a man who wanted a lot . So then I was in a fix , for I could n't go to father , did n't know jest where he was , and I would n't sneak back to Smithers to be abused .
Tried to make 'em take me at the XXXXX ' school , but they did n't want a boy , and I travelled along and tried to get work .
Ben Melia Moss Sanch Sancho Smithers West left ridin showin