the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第25章
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the hand grasping the roof timber。 The strain was too much。 Phil Forrest
lost his grip and fell heavily to the floor。
But this time he did not rise。 The lad lay still where he had fallen。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XX
THE BARNYARD CIRCUS
When next Phil opened his eyes he was lying on the grass on the shady
side of a freight car with someone dashing water in his face； while two or
three others stood around gazing at him curiously。
〃Whewhere am I？〃 gasped the boy。
〃I reckon you're lucky to be alive；〃 laughed the man who had been
soaking him from a pail of water。 〃Who be ye？〃
〃My name is Phil Forrest。〃
〃How'd ye git in that car？ Stealing a ride； eh？ Reckon we'd better
hand ye over to the town constable。 It's again the law to steal rides on
freight trains。〃
〃I've not stolen a ride。 It's no such thing；〃 protested Phil indignantly。
〃Ho； ho； that's a rich one！ Paid yer fare； hey？ Riding like a
gentleman in a side…door Pullman。 Good； ain't it； fellows？〃
〃Friends； I assure you I am not a tramp。 Someone assaulted me and
locked me in that car last night。 I've got money in my pocket to prove
that I am not a tramp。〃
The lad thrust his hands into his trousers' pockets； then a blank
expression overspread his face。 Reaching to his vest to see if his watch
were there； he found that that； too； was missing。
〃I've been robbed；〃 he gasped。 〃That's what it was。 Somebody
robbed and threw me into this car last night。 See； I've got a lump on my
head as big as a man's fist。〃
〃He sure has；〃 agreed one of the men。 〃Somebody must a given him
an awful clout with a club。〃
〃What town is this； please？〃
〃Mexico； Missouri。〃
〃Mexico？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How far is it from St。 Joseph？〃
〃St。 Joseph？ Why； I reckon St。 Joe is nigh onto a hundred and fifty
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miles from here。〃
Phil groaned。
〃A hundred and fifty miles and not a cent in my pocket！ What shall I
do？ Can I send a telegram？ Where is the station？〃
〃Sunday。 Station closed。〃
〃Sunday？ That's so。〃
Phil walked up and down between the tracks rather unsteadily；
curiously observed by the villagers。 They had heard his groans in the
freight car on the siding as they passed； and had quickly liberated the lad。
〃Do you think I could borrow enough money somewhere here to get
me to St。 Joseph？ I would send it back by return mail。〃
The men laughed long and loud。
〃What are you in such a hurry to get to St。 Joe for？〃 demanded the
spokesman of the party。
〃Because I want to get back to the circus。〃
〃Circus？〃 they exclaimed in chorus。
〃Yes。 I belong with the Sparling bined Shows。 I was on my
way to my train； in the railroad yards； when I was knocked out and thrown
into that car。〃
〃You with a circus？〃 The men regarded him in a new light。
〃Yes； why not？〃
This caused them to laugh。 Plainly they did not believe him。 Nor did
Phil care much whether they did or not。
〃What time is it？〃 he asked。
〃Church time。〃
He knew that； for he could hear the bells ringing off in the village to
the east of them。
〃I'll tell you what； sirs； I have got to have some breakfast。 If any of
you will be good enough to give me a meal I shall be glad to do whatever
you may wish to pay for it。 Then； if I cannot find the telegraph operator；
I shall have to stay over until I do。〃
〃What do you want the telegraph man for？〃
〃I want to wire the show for some money to get back with。 I've got to
be there tomorrow； in time for the show。 I must do it； if I have to run all
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the way。〃
The men were impressed by his story in spite of themselves； yet they
were loath to believe that this slender lad； much the worse for wear； could
belong to the organization he had named。
〃What do you do in the show？〃
〃I perform on the flying rings； ride the elephant and ride bareback in
the ring。 What about it？ Will one of you put me up？〃
The villagers consulted for a moment； then the spokesman turned to
Phil。
〃I reckon； if you be a circus feller； you kin show us some tricks； eh？〃
〃Perform for you； you mean？〃
〃Yep。〃
〃Well； I don't usually do anything like that on Sunday；〃 answered the
Circus Boy reflectively。
〃Eat on Sunday； don't you？〃
〃When I get a chance；〃 Phil grinned。 〃I guess your argument wins。
I've got to eat and I have offered to earn my meal。 What do you want me
to do？〃
〃Kin you do a flip？〃
Phil threw himself into a succession of cartwheels along the edge of
the railroad tracks； ending in a backward somersault。
〃And you ride a hoss without any saddle； standing up on his backyou
do that； too？〃
〃Why； yes；〃 laughed Phil； his face red from his exertion。
〃Then； e along。 e on； fellers！〃
Phil thought； of course； that he was being taken to the man's home just
outside the village； where he would get his breakfast。 He was considerably
surprised； therefore； when the men passed the house that his acquaintance
pointed out as belonging to himself； and took their way on toward a
collection of farm buildings some distance further up the road。
〃I wonder what they are going to do now？〃 marveled Phil。 〃This surely
doesn't look much like breakfast ing my way； and I'm almost
famished。〃
The leader of the party let down the bars of the farmyard； conducting
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his guests around behind a large hay barn； into an enclosed space； in the
center of which stood a straw stack； the stack and yard being surrounded
by barns and sheds。
〃Where are you fellows taking me？ Going to put me in the stable
with the live stock？〃 questioned Phil； laughingly。
〃You want some breakfast； eh？〃
〃Certainly I do； but I'm afraid I can't eat hay。〃
The men laughed uproariously at this bit of humor。
〃Must be a clown；〃 suggested one。
〃No； I am not a clown。 My little friend who performs with me； and
es from the same town I do； is one。 I wish he were here。 He would
make you laugh until you couldn't stand without leaning against
something。〃
〃Here； Joe！ Here； Joe！〃 their guide began calling in a loud voice；
alternating with loud whistling。
Phil heard a rustling over behind the straw stack； and then out trotted a
big； black draft horse； a heavy…footed； broad…backed Percheron； to his
astonishment。
〃My； that's a fine piece of horse flesh；〃 glowed the lad。 〃We have
several teams of those fellows for the heavy work with the show。 Of
course we don't use them in the ring。 Is this what you brought me here to
see？〃
〃Yep。 Git up there。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃Git up and show us fellers if you're a real circus man。〃
〃You mean you want me to ride him？〃 said Phil。
〃Sure thing。〃
〃How？〃
〃Git on his back and do one of them bareback stunts you was telling us
about；〃 and the fellow winked covertly at his panions； as much as if to
say； 〃we've got him going this time。〃
〃What； here in this rough yard？〃
〃Yep。〃
Phil considered for a moment； stamping about on the straw…covered
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ground； then sizing up the horse critically。
〃All right。 Bring me a bridle and fasten a long enough rein to the bit
so I can get hold of it standing up。〃
He was really going to do as they demanded。 The men were
surprised。 They had not believed he could； and now； at any rate； he was
going to make an effort to make good his boast。
A bridle was quickly fetched and slipped on the head of old Joe。 In
place of reins the farmer attached a rope to the bridle； Phil measuring on
the back of the horse to show how long it should be cut。
The preparations all plete； Phil grasped the rein and vaulted to the
high back of the animal； landing astride neatly。 This brought an
exclamation of approval from the audience。
〃Now git up on your feet。〃
〃Don't be in a hurry。 I want to ride him around the stack a few times
to get the hang of the ring；〃 laughed Phil。 〃It's a good； safe place to fall；
anyway。 Do I get some breakfast after this exhibition？〃 he questioned。
〃That depends。 Go on。〃
〃Gid…dap！〃 manded Phil； patting the black on its powerful neck。
Then they went trotting around the stack； the men backing off to get a
better view of the exhibition。
On the second round Phil drew up before them。
〃Got any chalk on the place？〃 he asked。
〃Reckon there's some in the barn。〃
〃Please fetch it。〃
They did not know what he wanted chalk for； but the owner of the
place hurried to fetch it。 In the meantime Phil was slowly removing his
shoes； which he threw to one side of the yard。 Bidding the men break up
the chalk into powder； he smeared the bottoms of his stockings with the
white powder； sprinkling a liberal supply on the back of the horse。
〃Here； here！ What you doing？ I have to curry that critter down
every morning；〃 shouted the owner。
Phil grinned and clucked to the horse； whose motion he had caught in
his brief ride about the stack； and once more disappeared around the p
