the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第12章
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as the pails left his hands。
The man chanced to be Larry； Teddy's enemy。 Teddy was traveling at
such a rapid rate that he did not recognize the fellow； but Larry recognized
him； and thereby another account was charged up against the Circus Boy。
But the mule； though the time limit for his act had expired； had not
quite satisfied his longing for excitement。 Whirling about； he plunged
toward the big top again。
〃Whoa！ Whoa！〃 howled Teddy； tugging at the reins。 But he might
as well have tried to check the wind。 Nothing short of a stone wall could
stop the educated mule until he was ready to stop。 The ringmaster had
blown his whistle for the next act and the performers were running to their
stations when Teddy and his mount suddenly made their appearance again。
〃Get out of here！〃 yelled the ringmaster。
〃I am trying to do so；〃 howled Teddy in a jeering voice。 〃Can't go any
faster than I am。〃
〃Stop him！ You'll run somebody down！〃 shouted Mr。 Sparling；
dodging out of the way as the mule； with ears laid back on his head；
dashed straight at the showman。
〃Can't stop。 In a hurry；〃 answered Teddy。
On they plunged past the bandstand again； the mule pausing at the
paddock entrance long enough to kick the silk curtains into ribbons。
Next he made a dive for the dressing tent。
In less time than it takes to tell it； the dressing tent looked as if it had
been struck by a cyclone。
Clubs and side poles were brought down on the rump of the wild mule；
most of which were promptly kicked through the side of the tent。 Teddy； in
the meantime； had landed in a performer's trunk； smashing through the
tray； being wedged in so tightly that he could not extricate himself。
Added to the din was Teddy's voice howling for help。
The performers； in all stages of dress and undress； had fled to the
outside。
Then； the mule being suddenly meek； pricked forward his ears；
ambled out into the paddock and began contentedly nibbling at the fresh
grass about the edges of the enclosure。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
About this time Mr。 Sparling came running in。 His face was red and
the perspiration was rolling down it。
〃Where's that fool boy？〃 he bellowed。 〃Where is he； I say？〃
〃Here he is；〃 answered the plaintive voice of Teddy Tucker。
〃e out of that！〃
〃I can't。 I'm stuck fast。〃
The showman jerked him out with scant ceremony； while Teddy began
pulling pieces of the trunk tray out of his clothes。
〃Do you want to put my show out of business？ What do you think
this isa cowboy picnic？ I'll fire you。 I'll〃
〃Better fire the mule。 I couldn't stop him；〃 answered the boy。
By this time the performers； after making sure that the mule had gone；
were creeping back。
〃I'll cut that act out。 I'll have the mule shot。 I'll Get out of here；
before I take you over my knee and give you what you deserve。〃
〃I'm off；〃 grinned Teddy； ducking under the canvas。
He was seen no more about the dressing tent until just before it was
time to go on for the evening performance。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER X
HIS FIRST BAREBACK LESSON
〃Where's that boy？〃
〃He'll catch it if he ever dares show his face in this dressing tent
again。〃
This and other expressions marked the disapproval of the performers
of the manner in which their enclosure had been entered and disrupted。
〃Don't blame him； blame the mule；〃 advised Mr。 Miaco； the head
clown。
〃Yes； Teddy wasn't to blame；〃 declared Phil； who had entered at that
moment。 〃Did he do all this？〃 he asked； looking about at the scene of
disorder。
〃He did。 Lucky some of us weren't killed；〃 declared one。 〃If that
mule isn't cut out of the programme I'll quit this outfit。 Never safe a
minute while he and the kid are around。 First； the kid gets us into a
scrimmage with the roustabouts； then he slam bangs into the dressing tent
with a fool mule and puts the whole business out of the running。〃
〃Was Mr。 Sparlingwas he mad？〃 asked Phil； laughing until the tears
started。
〃Mad？ He was red headed；〃 replied Miaco。
〃Where's Teddy？〃
〃He got stuck in the strong man's trunk there。 The boss had to pull
him out； for he was wedged fast。 Then the young man prudently made
his escape。 If the boss hadn't skinned him we would have done so。 He
got out just in time。〃
〃Are you Phil Forrest？〃 asked a uniformed attendant entering the
dressing tent。
〃Yes； what is it？〃
〃Lady wants to see you out in the paddock。〃
〃Who is it？〃
〃Mrs。 Robinson。〃
〃I don't know any Mrs。 Robinson。〃
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〃He means Little Dimples；〃 Mr。 Miaco informed him。
〃Oh。〃
Phil hurried from the tent。 Dimples was sitting on a property box；
industriously engaged on a piece of embroidery work。 She made a pretty
picture perched up on the box engaged in her peaceful occupation with the
needle； and the lad stopped to gaze at her admiringly。
Dimples glanced down with a smile。
〃Does it surprise you to see me at my fancy work？ That's what I love。
Why； last season； I embroidered a new shirt waist every week during the
show season。 I don't know what I'll do with them all。 But e over
here and sit down by me。 I ought to thank you for saving my life this
afternoon； but I know you would rather I did not。〃
Phil nodded。
〃I don't like to be thanked。 It makes me feelwell； awkward； I guess。
You froze； didn't you？〃
〃I did；〃 and Dimples laughed merrily。
〃What made you do sothe horse？〃
〃Yes。 I thought he was going to fall all the way down； then by the
time I remembered where I was I couldn't turn to save my life。 I heard
you call to me to do so； but I couldn't。 But let's talk about you。 You hurt
your back； didn't you？〃
〃Nothing to speak of。 It will be all right by morning。 I'm just a little
lame now。 Where were youwhat show were you with last year？〃
〃The Ringlings。〃
〃The Ringlings？〃 marveled Phil。 〃Why； I shouldn't think you would
want to leave a big show like that for a little one such as this？〃
〃It's the price； my dear boy。 I get more money here； and I'm a star
here。 In the big shows one is just a little part of a big organization。
There's nothing like the small shows for fort and good fellowship。
Don't you think so？〃
〃I don't know；〃 admitted Phil。 〃This is the only show I have ever
been with。 I 'joined out' last season〃
〃Only last season？ Well； well！ I must say you have made pretty
rapid progress for one who has been out less than a year。〃
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〃I have made a lot of blunders；〃 laughed Phil。 〃But I'm learning。 I
wish； though； that I could do a bareback act one quarter as well as you do。
I should be very proud if I could。〃
〃Have you ever tried it？〃
〃No。〃
〃Why don't you learn； then？ You'd pick it up quickly。〃
〃For the reason that I have never had an opportunityI've had no one
to teach me。〃
〃Then you shall do so now。 Your teacher is before you。〃
〃Youyou mean that you will teach me？〃
〃Of course。 What did you think I meant？〃
〃II wasn't sure。 That will be splendid。〃
〃I saw your elephant act。 You are a very finished performer a
natural born showman。 If you stay in the business long enough you will
make a great reputation for yourself。〃
〃I don't want to be a performer all my life。 I am going to own a show
some of these days；〃 announced the boy confidently。
〃Oh； you are； are you？〃 laughed Dimples。 〃Well； if you say so； I
most surely believe you。 You have the right sort of pluck to get anything
you set your heart on。 Now if my boy only〃
〃Your boy？〃
〃Yes。 Didn't you know that I am a married woman？〃
〃Oh my； I thought you were a young girl；〃 exclaimed Phil。
〃Thank you； that was a very pretty pliment。 But； alas； I am no
longer young。 I have a son almost as old as you are。 He is with his
father； performing at the Crystal Palace in London。 I expect to join them
over there after my season closes here。〃
〃Is it possible？〃
〃Yes； and as my own boy is so far away I shall have to be a sort of
mother to you this season。 You have no mother； have you？〃
〃No。 My mother is dead；〃 answered the lad in a low voice； lowering
his eyes。
〃I thought as much。 Mothers don't like to have their boys join a
circus； but； if they knew what a strict； wholesome life a circus performer
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has to lead； they would not be so set against the circus。 Don't you think；
taking it all in all； that we are a pretty good sort？〃 smiled Dimples。
〃I wish everyone were as good as circus folks；〃 the boy made answer
so earnestly as to bring a pleased smile to the face of his panion。
〃You shall have a lesson today for that； if you wish。〃
〃Do I？〃
〃Then run along and get on your togs。 As soon as the performance is
over we will get out my ring horse and
