THE COLLEGE AND THE CIRCUS
But this was merely a prelude. Holland's strong voice began again: "Now's the time, fellows!" he shouted. "At 'em! Rush' em! Rush 'em!"
With loud yells the whole line of collegians suddenly turned out upon the street and charged in upon the cavalcade, shouting and hooting vigorously. It was something like one of the old-fashioned cane-spree rushes in form and in fierceness; only, instead of grabbing off opponents' hats, they jerked bridles, threw the remainder of the ammunition in the showmen's faces, slapped the horses' heads, pulled the cowboys' stirrups, and tried to upset the smaller wagons.
Now, the showmen had been counting upon something happening, and so the sudden attack did not cause so much of a stampede as the students had expected. One or two mustangs started to run away, one pony was upset and the rider spilled, but that was about all. Cherokee Charlie and his lieutenants had in their day ridden against worse things than college students, and the horses themselves were accustomed to charg-
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