the circus boys across the continent(穿越大陆的马戏团男孩)-第9章
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The Smallest Man on Earth was quickly boosted to the top of a
property box。
〃Vot iss？〃 questioned the midget； his wizened； yellow little face
wrinkling into a questioning smile。
〃We are going to try this fellow； Larry； and you are to be the judge。〃
〃Yah；〃 agreed Oscar； after which he subsided； listening to the
proceedings that followed； with grave； expressionless eyes。 It is doubtful if
Oscar understood what it was all about； but his gravity and judicial
manner sent the whole dressing tent into an uproar of merriment。
After the evidence was all in； the entire pany taking part in
testifying； amid much merrimentfor the performers entered into the spirit
of the trial like a lot of schoolboysOscar was asked to decide what
should be done with the prisoner Larry。
Oscar was at a loss to know how to answer。
〃Duck him；〃 suggested one。
This was an inspiration to Oscar。 He smiled broadly。
〃Yah； dat iss。〃
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〃What iss？〃 demanded the Tallest Man On Earth。 〃Talk United
States。〃
〃Yah；〃 agreed Oscar； smiling seraphically。 〃Duck um。〃
〃Larry； it is the verdict of this court that you be ducked； as the only
fitting punishment for one who has mitted the crime of laying hands
on a Circus Boy。 Are we all agreed on the punishment meted out by the
dignified judge？〃
〃Yes； yes！〃 they shouted。 〃The rain barrel for him。〃
〃Men； do your duty！〃 cried Mr。 Miaco。
〃I wouldn't do that；〃 interposed Phil。 〃You haven't any more right to
duck him than he had to put Teddy under the water tank。 It isn't right。〃
But they gave no heed to his protests。 Willing hands grabbed the red…
headed tentman； whose kicks and struggles availed him nothing。 Raising
him over the barrel of water they soused him in head first； ducking him
again and again。
〃Take him out。 You'll drown him；〃 begged Phil。
Then they hauled Larry out； shaking the water out of him。 As soon as
his coughing ceased； he threatened dire vengeance against his assailants。
Four performers then carried their victim to the opening of the
dressing tent and threw him out bodily。
Instantly Larry's panions saw him fall at their feet； and heard his
angry explanation of the indignities that had been heaped upon him。
There was a lively scrambling over the ground； and the next instant a
volley of stones was hurled into the dressing tent。
Phil was just ing out on his way to the main entrance as the row
began。 A stone just grazed his cheek。 Without giving the least heed to
the assailants； he turned to cross the paddock in order to slip out under the
tent and go on about his business。 Most lads would have run under the
circumstances。 Not so Phil。 His were steady nerves。
〃There he is！ Grab him！〃 shouted Larry； catching sight of Phil and
charging that Phil had been one of those who had helped duck him。
Such was not the case； however； for instead of having taken part in the
ducking； Phil Forrest had tried to prevent it。
Larry and another man were running toward him。 The lad halted；
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turned and faced them。
〃What do you want of me？〃 he demanded。
〃I'll show you what I want of you。 You started this row。〃
〃I did nothing of the sort； sir。 You go on about your business and I
shall do the same； whether you do or not。〃
Phil raised the canvas and stepped out。 But no sooner had he gotten
out into the lot than the two men burst through the flapping side wall。
The boy saw them ing and knew that he was face to face with
trouble。
He adopted a ruse； knowing full well that he could not hope to cope
with the brawny canvasmen single handed and alone。 Starting off on a run；
Phil was followed instantly； as he felt sure he would be； but managing to
keep just ahead of the men and no more。
〃I've got you！〃
The voice was almost at his ear。
Phil halted with unexpected suddenness and dropped on all fours。
The canvasman was too close to check his own speed。 He fell over
Phil； landing on his head and shoulders in the dirt。
The lad was up like a flash。 Larry was close upon him now； and with
a snarl of rage launched a blow full at Phil Forrest's face。 But he had not
reckoned on the lad's agility； nor did he know that Phil was a trained
athlete。 Therefore； Larry's surprise was great when his fist beat the
empty air。
Thrown off his balance； Larry measured his length on the ground。
〃I advise you to let me alone；〃 warned Phil coolly； as the tentman was
scrambling to his feet。 Already Larry's panion had gotten up and was
gazing at Phil in a half dazed sort of way。
〃Get hold of him； Bad Eye！ What are you standing there like a
dummy for？ He'll run in a minute。〃
Phil's better judgment told him to do that very thing； but he could not
bring himself to run from danger。 Much as he disliked a row； he was too
plucky and courageous to run from danger。
Bad Eye was rushing at him； his eyes blazing with anger。
Phil side…stepped easily； avoiding his antagonist without the least
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difficulty。 But now he had to reckon with Larry； who； by this time； had
gotten to his feet。
It was two to one。
〃Stand back unless you want to get hurt！〃 cried Phil； with a warning
glint in his eyes。
Larry； by way of answer； struck viciously at him。 Phil； with a glance
about him； saw that he could not expect help； for there was no one in sight；
the performers being engaged at that moment in driving off the angry
laborers； which they were succeeding in doing with no great effort on their
part。
The lad cleverly dodged the blow。 But instead of backing away as
the canvasman's fist barely grazed his cheek； Phil； with a short arm jolt；
caught his adversary on the point of his chin。 Larry instantly lost all desire
for fight。 He sat down on the hard ground with a bump。
Now Bad Eye rushed in。 Again Phil sidestepped； and； thrusting a
foot between the fellow's legs； tripped him neatly。
Half a dozen men came running from the paddock。 They were the
fellows whom the performers had put to rout。 At that moment the bugle
blew for all hands to prepare for the parade。
〃I guess I have done about enough for one day；〃 decided Phil。 〃And for
a sick man it wasn't a half bad job。〃
With an amused glance at his fallen adversaries Phil ran to the big top；
less than a rod away； and； lifting the sidewall； slipped under and
disappeared within。
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CHAPTER VIII
PHIL MAKES A NEW FRIEND
〃Tweetle！ Tweetle！〃
Two rippling blasts from the ringmaster's whistle notified the show
people that the performance was on。 In moved the procession for the
Grand Entry； as the silken curtains separating the paddock from the big top
slowly fell apart。
Phil； from his lofty perch on the head of old Emperor； peering through
the opening of the bonnet in which he was concealed； could not repress an
exclamation of admiration。 It was a splendid spectacletaken from a
story of ancient Rome that was sweeping majestically about the arena to
the music of an inspiring tune into which the big circus band had suddenly
launched。
Gayly…caparisoned； nervous horses pranced and reared； huge wagons；
gorgeous under their coat of paint and gold； glistened in the afternoon
sunlight that fell softly through the canvas top and gave the peculiar
rattling sound so familiar to the lover of the circus as they moved
majestically into the arena； elephants trumpeted shrilly and the animals
back in the menagerie tent sent up a deafening roar of protest。 After
months of quiet in their winter quarters； this unusual noise and excitement
threw the wild beasts into a tempest of anger。 Pacing their cages with
upraised heads； they hurled their loud…voiced protests into the air until the
more timid of the spectators trembled in their seats。
It was an inspiring moment for the circus people； as well as for the
spectators。
〃Tweetle！ Tweetle！〃 sang the ringmaster's whistle after the spectacle
had wound its way once around the concourse。
At this the procession wheeled； its head cutting between the two rings；
slowly and majestically reaching for the paddock and dressing tent； where
the performers would hurry into their costumes for their various acts to
follow。
This left only the elephants in the ring。 The huge beasts now began
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their evolutions； ponderous but graceful； eliciting great applause； as did
their trainer； Mr。 Kennedy。 Then came the round…off of the act。 This； it
will be remembered； was of Phil Forrest's own invention； the act in which
Phil； secreted in the elephant's bonnet； burst out at the close of the act； and；
by the aid of wires running over a pulley above him； was able to descend
gracefully to the sawdust arena。
He was just a little nervous in this； the first performance of the season；
but； steadying his nerves； he went through the act without
