the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第16章
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entrance with a broad grin on his face。
〃That； my dear Phil； is your very good friend； Mr。 Teddy Tucker。〃
〃Teddy？ You don't mean it？〃
〃Yes； he has decided to be a clown； and I guess he is on the way。 The
people are kicking on the seats and howling。〃
〃I should judge； from appearances； that the other clowns were getting
even more entertainment out of his act than is the audience。〃
〃It certainly looks that way。 But let them go。 It will do Master
Teddy a whole lot of good。〃
A clown jumped to the ring curbing and made a speech about the
wonderful human football； announcing at the same time that the
championship game was about to be played。
Then they began to play in earnest。 Some had slapsticks； others light
barrel staves； and with these they began to belabor the human football；
each blow being so loud that it could be heard all over the tent。 Of
course the blows did not hurt Teddy at all； but the bouncing and buffeting
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that he got aroused his anger。
One clown would pick the lad up and throw him to a panion； who；
in turn； would drop him。 Then the audience would yell with delight as
the ball bounced to an upright position again。 This the clowns kept up until
Teddy did not know whether he were standing on his feet or his head。
The perspiration was rolling down his face； getting into his eyes and
blinding him。
〃Quit it！〃 he howled。
〃Maybe you'll ride the educated mule through the dressing tent again？〃
jeered a clown。
〃Bring the mule out and let him knock the wind out of the rubber
man！〃 suggested another。
〃How do you like being a clown？〃
This and other taunts were shouted at the rubber man； Teddy
meanwhile expressing himself with unusual vehemence。
Mr。 Sparling had in the meantime sent a message back to the paddock。
He was holding his sides with laughter； while Phil himself was leaning
against a quarter pole shouting with merriment。
Suddenly there came the sound of a clanging gong； interspersed with
shouts from the far end of the tent。
The spectators quickly glanced in that direction； and they saw ing
at a rapid rate the little patrol wagon drawn by four diminutive ponies； the
outfit so familiar to the boys who attend the circus。
The clowns were surprised when they observed it； knowing that the
patrol was not scheduled to enter at this time。 Their surprise was even
greater when the wagon dashed up and stopped where they were playing
their game of football。 Three mock policemen leaped out and rushed into
the thick of the mock game。
As they did so they hurled the clowns right and left； standing some of
them on their heads and beating them with their clubs； which； in this
instance； proved to be slapsticks； that made a great racket。
This was a part of the act that the clowns had not arranged。 It was a
little joke that the owner of the show was playing on them。 Quick to
seize an opportunity to make a hit； Sparling had ordered out the show
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patrol； and the audience； catching the significance of it； shouted； swinging
their hats and handkerchiefs。
The three policemen； after laying the clowns low； grabbed the helpless
human football by the heels； dragging him to the wagon and dumping him
in。 They dropped the human football in so heavily that it bounced out
again and hit the ground。 The next time； as they threw Teddy in； one of
the officers sat on him to hold him。
The gong set up an excited clanging； and the ponies began racing
around the arena the long way； and took the stretch to the paddock at a
terrific speed； with the howls of the multitude sounding in their ears。
Reaching the dressing tent； the mock policemen let the air out of the
rubber ball； whereat Teddy sat down heavily in a pail of water。
The performers danced around Tucker； singing an improvised song
about the human football。 Gradually the angry scowl on the face of the
Circus Boy relaxed into a broad grin。
〃How do you like being a clown now？〃 jeered the Iron…Jawed Man。
〃Yes； how does it feel to be a football？〃 questioned another。
〃I guess you got even with me that time；〃 answered Teddy good…
naturedly。 〃But say； that's easy pared with riding the educated mule。〃
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XIII
DUCKED BY AN ELEPHANT
The great white billows of the Sparling bined Shows were
moving steadily across the continent。 The receipts had exceeded Mr。
Sparling's most sanguine expectations； and he was in great good humor。
Only one unpleasant incident had happened and that occurred at
Franklin； Indiana。 Phil and Teddy； while on their way to their car after
the performance late at night； had been set upon by two men and quite
severely beaten； though both lads had given a good account of themselves
and finally driven off their assailants。
They did not report their experience to Mr。 Sparling until the next
morning； having gone directly to their car and put themselves to bed after
having been fixed up with plasters and bandages by some of their
panions。 The next morning neither lad was particularly attractive to
look at。 However； bearing the taunts of the show people good…naturedly；
they started for the cook tent just as they were in the habit of doing every
day。
But Mr。 Sparling had seen them as they passed his car on their way。
〃Now； I wonder what those boys have been up to？〃 he scowled；
watching their receding forms thoughtfully。 〃I'll find out。〃
And he did。 He summoned the lads to his office in the tent soon after
breakfast。
〃I expected you would send for us；〃 grinned Phil； as he walked in with
Teddy。 〃What about it？ You are both sights！〃
〃Grease paint and powder will cover it up； I guess； Mr。 Sparling。〃
〃I'll hear how it happened。〃
〃I can't tell you much about it；〃 said Phil。 〃We were on our way to
the car when a couple of men suddenly jumped out from a fence corner
and went at us hammer and tongs。 That's when we got these beauty spots。
If we had seen the fellows ing we might not have been hit at all。〃
〃Wait a minute； where did this occur？〃 demanded the showman。
〃Just outside the lot at Franklin。 It was very dark there； and； as you
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know； the sky was overcast。〃
〃Did you know the menhad you ever seen them before？〃
〃I couldn't say as to that。〃
〃No； sir； we couldn't say；〃 added Teddy； nodding。
Mr。 Sparling turned a cold eye upon Tucker。
〃I haven't asked for remarks from you； young man。 When I do you
may answer。〃
Teddy subsided for the moment。
〃But； had it been anyone you knew； you must have recognized their
voices。〃
〃They didn't say a word。 Just pitched into us savagely。 I think they
might have done us serious injury had we not defended ourselves pretty
well。〃
〃It occurs to me that you were rather roughly handled as it was；〃 said
the showman； with a suspicion of a grin on his face。 〃Doctor fixed you up；
I suppose？〃
〃Oh； no； it wasn't so bad as that。〃
〃Have you any suspiciondo you think it was any of the show
people？〃 demanded Mr。 Sparling； eyeing Phil penetratingly。
〃I don't know。 Here is a button I got from the coat of one of the men。
That may serve to identify him if he is one of our men。 I haven't had a
chance to look around this morning。〃
The showman quickly stretched forth his hand for the button； which he
examined curiously。
〃And here's a collar； too；〃 chuckled Teddy。
〃A collar？ Where did you get that； young man？〃
〃Oh； I just yanked it off the other fellow。 Guess it hasn't been to the
laundry this season。〃
Mr。 Sparling leaned back and laughed heartily。
〃Between you； you boys will be the ruination of me。 You take my
mind off business so that I don't know what I'm about half of the time。
But I can't get along without you。 I'll look into this matter；〃 he went on
more gravely。 〃Tell the boss canvasman to send Larry and Bad Eye to
me。〃
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〃Yes； sir。〃
The lads delivered the message。
Mr。 Sparling's eyes twinkled as these two worthies sneaked into his
tent； each with a hangdog expression on his face。 〃Red〃 Larry had a black
eye； while Bad Eye's nose appeared to have listed to one side。
The showman glanced at Larry's coat； then at the button in his own
hand。 He nodded understandingly。 Bad Eye was collarless。
〃Here's a button that I think you lost off your coat last night； Larry；〃
smiled Mr。 Sparling sweetly。 〃And； Bad Eye； here's your collar。 Better
send it to the washerwoman。〃
The men were speechless for the moment。
〃Go to the boss； both of you； and get your time。 Then I want you to
clear out of here。〃
〃Whawhatwe ain't done nothing；〃 protested Larry。
〃And you had better not。 If I see you about the circus lot again this
season； I'll have you both in the nearest jail quicker than you can say 'scat！'
Understand？ Get out of here！〃
T
