the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第18章
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that Mr。 Kennedy was walking by Jupiter's side； giving him almost his
exclusive attention。
Phil's place in the parade this season was with a body of German
cavalry。 He wore a plumed hat； with a gaudy uniform and rode a
handsome bay horse； one of the animals used in the running race at the
close of the circus。 Phil had bee very proficient on horseback and
occasionally had entered the ring races； being light enough for the purpose。
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He had also kept up his bareback practice； under the instruction of
Dimples； until he felt quite proud of his achievements。
Vincennes； where the show was to exhibit that day； was a large town；
and thousands of people had turned out to view the parade which had been
extensively advertised as one of the greatest features ever offered to the
public。
〃They seem to like it；〃 grinned Phil； turning to the rider beside him。
〃Act as if they'd never seen a circus parade before；〃 answered the man。
〃But wait till we get out in some of the way…back towns in the West。〃
〃I thought we were West now？〃
〃Not until we get the other side of the Mississippi； we won't be。 They
don't call Indiana West。 We'll be getting there pretty soon； too。
According to the route card； we are going to make some pretty long jumps
from this on。〃
〃We do not go to Chicago； do we？〃
〃No。 Show's not quite big enough for that town。 We go south of it；
playing some stands in Illinois； then striking straight west。 Hello； what's
the row up ahead there？〃
〃What row； I didn't see anything。〃
〃Something is going on up there。 See！ The line is breaking！〃
The part of the parade in which Phil was located was well up toward
the elephants； the animals at that moment having turned a corner； moving
at right angles to Phil's course。
〃It's the elephants！〃 cried the lad aghast。
〃What's happening？〃
〃They have broken the line！〃
All was confusion at the point on which the two showmen had focused
their eyes。
〃It's a stampede； I do believe！〃 exclaimed Phil。 〃I wonder where Mr。
Kennedy is？ I don't see him anywhere。〃
〃There！ They're ing this way。〃
〃What； the elephants？ Yes； that's so。 Oh； I'm afraid somebody will
be killed。〃
〃If there hasn't already been；〃 growled Phil's panion。 〃I'm going to
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get out of this while I have the chance。 I've seen elephants on the
rampage before。〃 Saying which； the showman turned his horse and rode
out of the line。 His example was followed by many of the others。
People were screaming and rushing here and there； horses neighing；
and the animals in the closed cages roaring in a most terrifying way。
Phil pulled his horse up short； undecided what to do。 He had never
seen a stampede before； but desperate as the situation seemed； he felt no
fear。
The elephants； with lowered heads； were charging straight ahead。 Now
Phil saw that which seemed to send his heart right up into his throat。
Little Dimples had been riding in a gayly bedecked two…wheeled cart；
drawn by a prancing white horse。 Dressed in white from head to foot；
she looked the dainty creature that she was。
Dimples； seeing what had happened； had wheeled her horse quickly
out of line； intending to turn about and drive back along the line。 It
would be a race between the white horse and the elephants； but she felt
sure she would be able to make it and turn down a side street before the
stampeding herd reached her。
She might have done so； had it not been for one unforeseen incident。
As she dashed along a rider； losing his presence of mind； if indeed； he had
had any to lose； drove his horse directly in front of her。 The result was a
quick collision； two struggling horses lying kicking in the dust of the street；
and a white…robed figure lying stretched out perilously near the flying
hoofs。
The force of the collision had thrown Little Dimples headlong from
her seat in the two wheeled cart； and there she lay； half…dazed with the
herd of elephants thundering down upon her。
Phil took in her peril in one swift glance。
〃She'll be killed！ She'll be killed！〃 he cried； all the color suddenly
leaving his face。
All at once he drove the rowels of his spurs against the sides of his
mount。 The animal sprang away straight toward the oning herd； but
Phil had to fight every inch of the way to keep the horse from turning
about and rushing back； away from the peril that lay before it。
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The lad feared he would not be able to reach Dimples in time； but with
frequent prods of spur and crop； uttering little encouraging shouts to the
frightened horse； he dashed on； dodging fleeing showmen and runaway
horses at almost every jump。
He forged up beside the girl at a terrific pace。 But； now that he was
there； the lad did not dare dismount； knowing that were he to do so； his
horse would quickly break away from him； thus leaving them both to be
crushed under the feet of the ponderous beasts。
It was plain to Phil that Jupiter must have gone suddenly bad； and；
starting on a stampede； had carried the other bulls with him。 And he even
found himself wondering if anything had happened to his friend Kennedy；
the elephant trainer。 If Kennedy were on his feet he would be after them。
As it was； no one appeared to be chasing the runaway beasts。
Phil leaned far from the saddle grasping the woman by her flimsy
clothing。 It gave way just as he had begun to lift her； intending to pull
her up beside him on the horse's back。
Twice he essayed the feat； each time with the same result。 The bay was
dancing further away each time； and the elephants were getting nearer。
The uproar was deafening； which； with the trumpetings of the frightened
elephants； made the stoutest hearts quail。
With a grim determination Forrest once more charged alongside of
Dimples。 As he did so she opened her eyes； though Phil did not observe
this； else he might have acted differently。
As it was he threw himself from the bay while that animal was still on
the jump。 Keeping tight hold of the saddle pommel； the reins bunched in
the hand that grasped it； Phil dropped down。 When he came up； Dimples
was on his arm。
He then saw that she was herself again。
〃Can you hold on if I get you up？〃
〃Yes。 You're a good boy。〃
Phil made no reply； but； with a supreme effort； threw the girl into the
saddle。 To do so he was obliged to let go the pommel and the reins for
one brief instant。 But he succeeded in throwing Dimples up to the saddle
safely； where she quickly secured herself。
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The bay was off like a shot； leaving Phil directly in front of the
oning elephants。
〃Run！ I'll e back and get you；〃 shouted Dimples over her
shoulder。
〃You can't。 The reins are over the bay's head；〃 he answered。
She was powerless to help。 Dimples realized this at once。 She was in
no danger herself。 She was such a skillful rider that it made little
difference whether the reins were in her hand or on the ground； so far as
maintaining her seat was concerned。 With Phil； however； it was different。
〃I guess I might as well stand still and take it；〃 muttered the lad grimly。
He turned； facing the mad herd； a slender but heroic figure in that
moment of peril。
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CHAPTER XV
EMPEROR TO THE RESCUE
〃Get back！〃 shouted the boy。
He had descried Teddy Tucker driving his own mount toward him。
Teddy was ing to the rescue in the face of almost certain death。
〃You can't make it！ Go back！〃
Whether or not Teddy heard and understood； did not matter； for at that
moment the view of the plucky lad was shut off by the elephants forming
their charging line into crescent shape。
〃Emperor！〃 he called in a shrill penetrating voice。 But in the dust of
the charge he could not make out which one was Emperor； yet he
continued calling lustily。
〃Emperor！〃
Phil threw his hands above his head as was his wont when desirous of
having the old elephant pick him up。
Right across the center of the crescent careened a great hulking figure；
uttering loud trumpetingstrumpetings that were taken up by his
panions until the very ground seemed to shake。
Phil's back was half toward the big elephant； and in the noise he did
not distinguish a familiar note in the call。
All at once he felt himself violently jerked from the ground。 The lad
was certain that his time had e。 But out of that cloud of dust； in
which those who looked； believed that the little Circus Boy had gone
down to his death； Phil Forrest rose right up into the air and was dropped
unharmed to the back of old Emperor。
For the moment he was so dizzy that he was unable to make up his
mind what had happened or where he was。 Then it all came to him。 He
was on Emperor's back。
〃Hurrah！〃 shouted Phil。 〃Good old Emperor！ Steady； steady；
Emperor！ That's a good fellow。〃
He patted the beast's head with the flat
