About this ebook
In a storm-racked circus caravan, Neka, a weary boy performer brutalized by the cruel owner Daniel Bambo, finally rebels and escapes after a violent confrontation is interrupted by a mysterious stranger's thrown stone. The rescuer is Longfellow Wadsworth, a shabby but grand elocutionist and tragedian who shelters Neka in an abandoned barn and offers friendship, protection, and a path to freedom. As dawn breaks, the boy reveals the mystery of his past: Bambo has long claimed to be his guardian, yet Neka suspects the truth is far stranger, stretching back to Cleveland and an earlier life of stage tricks and uncertain care. Determined to survive honestly, Neka and Wadsworth head toward Chambersburgh, where Neka's quick thinking wins them work after he stops a bicycle theft. Rebranded onstage as "Neka, King of Fire," he dazzles audiences with his fiery acrobatic act, even surviving a collapsing stage scene with Wadsworth's help. Their traveling show gains momentum, but winter brings new danger when Wadsworth's drinking leads to a theft of the troupe's savings. Neka's pursuit ends in a river chase, where he outwits armed thieves, recovers the money, and turns them over to the authorities. Through danger, loyalty, and hard-won courage, the boy fights toward dignity, justice, and a true home. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
In a storm-racked circus caravan, Neka, a weary boy performer brutalized by the cruel owner Daniel Bambo, finally rebels and escapes after a violent confrontation is interrupted by a mysterious stranger's thrown stone. The rescuer is Longfellow Wadsworth, a shabby but grand elocutionist and trage...
Discover more
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
