the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第30章
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sound asleep； after which he tumbled into his own bed。
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But Phil was restless。 He was so afraid that he would oversleep that
he slept very little during the night。
At the first streak of dawn he tumbled quietly from his berth； and；
putting on his clothes； stepped out to the front platform； where he took a
long breath of the fresh morning air。
The train was climbing a long grade in the Sierra Nevadas and the car
couplings were groaning under the weight put upon them。
Phil climbed to the top of the big stock car just ahead of him； and sat
down on the brake wheel。
Far ahead he saw several men going over the cars。
〃They have not only begun the search but they are almost through；〃
muttered Phil。 〃As I thought； they are not half doing it。 I guess I'll take
a hand。〃
Phil stood up； caught his balance and began walking steadily over the
top of the swaying car。 At the other end of the car he opened the trap
door which was used to push hay through for the animals； examining its
interior carefully。 There was no sign of a stranger inside； nor did he
expect to find any there。
〃He'll be in a place less likely to be looked into；〃 muttered the lad
starting on again and jumping down to a flat car just ahead。
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The Circus Boys Across The Continent （Or Winning New Laurels on the Tanbark）
CHAPTER XXIV
CONCLUSION
〃There's somebody climbing over the train；〃 called one of the
searchers to the train manager。
All hands turned； gazing off toward Phil。 He swung his hands toward
them； whereat they recognized the lad and went on about their work。
〃Wonder they saw even me！〃 grumbled the lad； moving slowly along。
It seemed almost impossible that one could hide on a train like that。 Here
and there men were sleeping under the wagons； and Phil made it his
business to get a look into the face of each of them。 Not a man did he
find who bore the slightest resemblance to Red Larry or Bad Eye。
〃It doesn't look very promising； I must say；〃 he muttered； jumping
lightly from one flat car to another。
Phil had searched faithfully until finally he reached a 〃flat〃 just behind
that on which stood the great gilded band wagon。 Now； under its covering
of heavy canvas； none of its gaudy trimmings were to be seen。
Phil sat down on the low projection at the side of the flat car； eyeing
the band wagon suspiciously。
Somehow he could not rid himself of the impression that that wagon
would bear scrutiny。
〃I'll bet they never looked into it。 Last year when we were a road
show； I remember how the men used to sleep in there and how Teddy got
thrown out when he walked on somebody's face；〃 and Phil laughed softly
at the memory。 〃I'm going to climb up there。〃
To do this was not an easy matter； for the band wagon seemed to loom
above him like a tent。 The canvas stretched over it； extending clear down
to the wheels； to which it was secured by ropes。 The only way the Circus
Boy could get up into the wagon seemed to be to crawl under the canvas at
the bottom and gradually to work his way up。
〃I'm going to try it；〃 he decided all at once。 〃Of course they didn't
look into it。 Maybe they are afraid they will find someone。 Well； here
goes！ If I fall off that will be the last of me； but I am not going to fall。 I
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ought to be able to climb by this time if I'm ever going to。〃
Phil got up promptly； glanced toward the long train that was winding
its way up the steep mountain； then stepped across the intervening space
between the two cars。 He wasted no time； but immediately lifted the
canvas and peered along the side of the wagon。
He discovered that he would have to go to the forward end of it in
order to reach the top； because the steps were at that end。 There the canvas
was drawn tighter； so the lad untied one of the ropes； leaving one corner of
the covering flapping in the breeze。
Cautiously and quietly he began climbing up； the wagon swaying
dizzily with the motion of the train； making it more and more difficult to
cling to it as he got nearer the top。 The air was close； and soon after the
boy began going up； the sun beat down on the canvas cover suffocatingly。
Now he had reached the top。 High seats intervened between him and
the other end； so that he could not see far ahead of him。 Phil dropped
down into the wagon and began creeping toward the rear。
He stumbled over some properties that had been stowed in the wagon；
making a great clatter。 Instantly there was a motion in the other end
of the car。
Phil scrambled up quickly and crawled over the high seat ahead of him。
As he did so he uttered an exclamation。 The red head of Red Larry could
be seen； his beady eyes peering over the back of a seat。
〃I've got you this time； Red！〃 exulted Phil； clambering over the seat in
such a hurry that he fell in a heap on the other side of it。
The lad seemed to have no sense that he was placing himself in grave
peril。 He had no fear in his makeup； and his every nerve was centered on
capturing the desperate； revengeful man who had not only assaulted Phil；
but who had caused so much damage to the Sparling Shows。
〃Don't you dare e near me； you young cub！〃 threatened Red； as
with rage…distorted face he suddenly whipped out a knife。
Phil picked up a club and started toward him。 The club happened to
be a tent stake。 Red observed the action； and crouching low waited as the
lad approached him。
〃I'm going to get you； Red！ I'm not afraid of your knife。 You can't
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touch me with it because before you get the chance I'm going to slam you
over the head with this tent stake；〃 grinned Phil Forrest。
Red snarled and showed his teeth。
〃Oh； you needn't think you can get away。 The men are hunting for
you further up the train。 They'll be along here in a minute； and then I
reckon you'll be tied up and dumped into the lion cage； though I don't
think even a lion would eat such a mean hound as you are。〃
Suddenly the man straightened up。 Now； he held something in his
hand besides the knife。 It was a stake。
Red drew back his arm； hurling the heavy stick straight at his young
adversary's head。 Phil； observing the movement let drive his own tent
stake； but having to throw so hurriedly； his aim was poor。 Red Larry's
aim； on the other hand was better。 Phil dodged like a flash。
Had he not done so the stake would have struck him squarely in the
face。 As it was the missile grazed the side of his head； causing the lad to
fall in a heap。
Red Larry hesitated only for a second； then leaping to the high rear
seat of the wagon drew his knife along the canvas above him； opening a
great slit in it。 Through the opening thus made he peered cautiously。
What he saw evidently convinced him of the truth of what Phil had just
said。 Up toward the head of the train the searchers were at work； and
from what Red had heard he realized they were looking for him。
Red did not delay a second。 He scrambled out through the canvas
just as Phil pulled himself to his feet。 The lad could see the fellow's legs
dangling through the canvas。
Phil uttered a yell； hurling himself wildly over the high…backed seats in
an effort to catch and hold the legs ere Red could get out。 But Larry
heard him ing； and quickly clambered down the back of the wagon to
the deck of the flat car。
Phil once more grabbed up his own tent stake as he stumbled back
through the wagon。
〃I've got you！〃 yelled the boy as he pulled himself up through the
opening； observing Red standing hesitatingly on the flat car with a
frightened look in his eyes。
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〃Hi！ Hi！〃 cried Phil； turning and gesticulating wildly at the men
further up the train 〃I've got him！ Hurry！ I〃
Something sang by his head and dropped quivering in the canvas
beyond him。 It was the discharged tentman's knife which he had aimed
at Phil； his aim having been destroyed by a lurch of the car； thus saving the
Circus Boy's life。
〃Want to kill me； do you？ I've got you now！ The men are ing。
Don't you dare move or I'll drop this stake on you。 I can't miss you this
time。〃
Red after one hesitating glance； faced the front and leaped from the
train down the long； sloping cinder…covered bank。
Phil let drive his tent stake。 It caught Red on the shoulder； bowling
the rascal over like a nine pin。
Phil Forrest uttered a yell of exultation； suddenly dropping to the floor
of the car at the imminent risk of his life。
The men were now piling over the cars in his direction。 He did not
know whether they had seen Red jump or not。 Phil did not waste any
time in idle speculation。
〃e on！〃 he shouted； springing to the edge of the car； keeping
himself from falling by grasping a wheel of the wagon。
Then Phil Forrest did a daring thing。 Crouching low； choosing his
time unerringly； he jumped from the train。 Fortunately
