the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第14章
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turning on his heel； he left the tent。
〃Don't you think you had better fine me； too； sir？〃 asked Phil。
〃What for？〃
〃Because I shall have to do it again some of these days。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃That fellow is going to be even with me at the very first opportunity。〃
Mr。 Sparling eyed the lad for a moment。
〃I guess you will be able to give a good account of yourself if he tries
to do anything of the sort。 Let me say right here； though you need not
tell your friend so that I think Teddy did just right； and I am glad you gave
Larry a good drubbing。 But； of course； we can't encourage this sort of
thing with the show。 It has to be put down with an iron hand。〃
〃I understand； sir。〃
〃Mind； I don't expect you to be a coward。〃
〃I hope not。 My father used to teach me not to be。 He frequently said；
'Phil； keep out of trouble； but if you get into it； don't sneak out。' 〃
〃That's the talk；〃 roared Mr。 Sparling； smiting his desk with a mighty
fist。 〃You run along； now； and give your young friend some advice about
what he may expect if he gets into any more difficulty。〃
〃I have done that already。〃
〃Good！ Tell it to him again as ing from me。 He's going to
make a good showman； though he came near putting this outfit out of
business with the fool mule this afternoon。 I would cut the act out； but
for the fact that it is a scream from start to finish。 Feeling all right？〃
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〃Yes； thank you。 I am perfectly able to go on in the ring act tonight；
if you think best。〃
〃Wait until tomorrow； wait until tomorrow。 You'll be all the better for
it。〃
The cook tent was open； as Phil observed。 The red flag was flying
from the center pole of the tent； indicating that supper was being served。
In a short time the tent would e down and be on its way in the flying
squadron to the next stand。
The show was now less than a day out； but many things had happened。
Not a moment had been without its interest or excitement； and Phil
realized that as he walked toward the cook tent。 He found Teddy there；
satisfying his appetite； or rather exerting himself in that direction； for
Teddy's appetite was a thing never wholly satisfied。
After supper Phil took the boy aside and delivered Mr。 Sparling's
message。 Teddy looked properly serious； but it is doubtful if the warning
sank very deep into his mind； for the next minute he was turning
handsprings on the lot。
〃Know what I'm going to do； Phil？〃 he glowed。
〃There's no telling what you will do； from one minute to the next；
Teddy；〃 replied Phil。
〃Going to practice up and see if I can't get in the leaping act。〃
〃That's a good idea。 When do you begin taking lessons？〃
〃Taking 'em now。〃
〃From Mr。 Miaco？〃
〃Yes。 I did a turn off the springboard this afternoon with the
'mechanic on；' 〃 meaning the harness used to instruct beginners in the art
of tumbling。
〃How did you make out？〃
〃Fine！ I'd have broken my neck if it hadn't been for the harness。〃
Phil laughed heartily。
〃I should say you did do finely。 But you don't expect to be able to
jump over ten elephants and horses the way the others do？〃
〃They don't all do it。 Some of 'em leap until they get half a dozen
elephants in line； then they stand off and watch the real artists finish the
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act。 I can do that part of it now。 But I tell you I'm going to be a leaper；
Phil。〃
〃Good for you！ That's the way to talk。 Keep out of trouble； work
hard； don't talk too much； and you'll beat me yet；〃 declared Phil。 〃And
say！〃
〃What？〃
〃Be careful with that mule act tonight。 You know Mr。 Sparling will
be in there watching you。 It wouldn't take much more trouble to cause
him to cut that act out of the programme； and then you might not be
drawing so much salary。 Fifty dollars a week is pretty nice for each of us。
If we don't get swelled heads； but behave ourselves； we'll have a nice little
pile of money by the time the season closes。〃
〃Yes；〃 agreed Teddy。 〃I guess that's so； but we'll be losing a lot of
fun。〃
〃I don't agree with you；〃 laughed Phil。
The lads strolled into the menagerie tent on their way through to the
dressing tent。 The gasoline men were busy lighting their lamps and
hauling them on center and quarter pole； while the menagerie attendants
were turning the tongues of the cages about so that the horses could be
hitched on promptly after the show in the big top began。
Some of the animals were munching hay； others of the caged beasts
were lying with their noses poked through between the bars of their cages；
blinking drowsily。
〃I'd hate to be him；〃 announced Teddy with a prehensive wave of
the hand as they passed the giraffe； which stood silent in his roped
enclosure； his head far up in the shadows。
〃Why？〃
〃For two reasons。 Keeper tells me he can't make a sound。 Doesn't
bray； nor whinny； nor growl； nor bark； nor can't do anything。 I'd rather
be a lion or a tiger or something like that。 If I couldn't do anything else；
then； I could stand off and growl at folks。〃
Phil nodded and smiled。
〃And what's your other reason for being glad you are not a giraffe？〃
〃Becausebecausebecause when you had a sore throat think what a
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lot of neck you'd have to gargle！〃
Phil laughed outright； and as the giraffe lowered its head and peered
down into their faces； he thought； for the moment； that he could see the
animal grin。
After this they continued on to the dressing tent； where they remained
until time for the evening performance。 This passed off without incident；
Teddy and his mule doing nothing more sensational than kicking a rent in
the ringmaster's coat。
After the show was over； and the tents had begun to e down； Phil
announced his intention of going downtown for a lunch。
〃This fresh air makes me hungry。 You see； I am not used to it yet；〃 he
explained in an apologetic tone。
〃You do not have to go down for a lunch； unless you want to；〃 the
bandmaster informed him。
〃Why； is there a lunch place on the grounds？〃
〃No。 We have an acmodation car on our section。〃
〃What kind of car is that？〃
〃Lunch car。 You can't get a heavy meal there； but you will find a nice
satisfying lunch。 The boss has it served at cost。 He doesn't make any
money out of the deal。 You'll find it on our section。〃
〃Good！ e along Teddy。〃
〃Will I？ That's where I'll spend my money；〃 nodded Teddy； starting
away at a jog trot。
〃And your nights too； if they would let you；〃 laughed Phil； following
his panion at a more leisurely gait。
As they crossed the lot they passed 〃Red〃 Larry； as he had now been
nicknamed by the showmen。 Larry pretended not to see the boys； but
there was an ugly scowl on his face that told Phil he did； and after the lads
had gone on a piece Phil turned； casting a careless look back where the
torches were flaring and men working and shouting。
〃Red〃 Larry was not working now。 He was facing the boys； shaking
a clenched fist at them。
〃I am afraid we haven't heard the last of our friend； Larry；〃 said Phil。
〃Who's afraid？〃 growled Teddy。
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〃Neither of us。 But all the same we had better keep an eye on him
while we are in his vicinity。 We don't want to get into any more trouble
at least not； if we can possibly avoid it。〃
〃Not till Mr。 Sparling forgets about today？ Is that it？〃
〃I guess it is；〃 grinned Phil。
〃He might take it seriously？〃
〃He already has done that。 So be careful。〃
Teddy nodded。 But the lads had not yet heard the last of 〃Red〃 Larry。
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CHAPTER XII
THE HUMAN FOOTBALL
〃Ever try clowning； young man？〃 asked the Iron…Jawed Man。
Teddy Tucker shook his head。
〃Why don't you？〃
〃Nobody ever asked me。〃
〃Then you had better ask the boss to let you try it。 Tell him you want
to be a clown and that we will take you in and put you through your paces
until you are able to go it alone。〃
The show had been on the road for nearly two weeks now； and every
department was working like a piece of well…oiled machinery。 The usual
number of minor disasters had befallen the outfit during the first week； but
now everything was system and method。 The animals had bee used to
the constant moving； and to the crowds and the noise； so that their growls
of plaint were few。
In that time Teddy and Phil had been going through their act on the
flying rings daily； having shown great improvement since they closed with
the show the previous fall。 Their winter's work had proved of great
benefit； and Mr。 Sparling had plimented them several times lately。
Teddy was now devoting all his spare time to learning to somersault
and do the leaping act from the springboard。 He could； by this time； turn a
somersault from the board； though his landing was less certain。 Any part
of his anatomy was liable to sustain the impact of his fall； but he fell in so
many ludicrous positions that the other performers let it go at that； for it
furnishe
