the circus boys in dixie land(迪克西的马戏团男孩)-第21部分
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he moaned； rubbing his lame spots vigorously。 〃My； but I am hungry！ I
wonder how far I am from Corinto？〃
A mile post a little further along told him that he had covered just
twenty miles of his journey。 He still had thirty miles to goa long
distance for one in his condition。
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All during the rest of the day Phil was obliged to take frequent rests。
Whenever he came to a stream he would halt and thrusting his feet into the
cooling water； keep them there for some time。 This helped him
considerably； for his feet were swollen and feverish。 The sun beating
down on his head made him dizzy and faint； which was made the more
disturbing because of his empty stomach。
He managed； just before sunset； to get a sandwich at a farmhouse；
though he was looked upon with suspicion by the housewife who gave
him the food。 Phil offered to do something to pay for the slender meal；
but the woman refused and bade him be on his way。
〃I don't blame her。 I must be a tough looking customer；〃 grinned the
boy； again climbing the fence and starting along the track。 He fought shy
of villages during daylight； fearing that he might be arrested for vagrancy
and locked up。 That would defeat his plans。
〃I simply must get to Corinto and warn Mr。 Sparling；〃 he gritted。 〃He
doesn't know the plans these people have to harm him。 If it were not for
that I wouldn't try to go any further today。 I could get somebody to help
me out for a day or so； until I could write to Mr。 Sparling。〃
Now and then he met a tramp or two； but none that he thought looked
any more disreputable than he himself did。 He passed the time of day
pleasantly； with such； and continued on his way。
Late in the evening he once more lay down for a rest。 But Phil did
not permit himself to sleep long。 He feared he should not be able to
wake up until morning if he did； and then he never would reach the show
town in time to warn Mr。 Sparling of the impending danger。
At daylight he was still ten miles from his destination。
〃I must make it。 I shall make it！〃 he breathed； starting on a run；
having found a path at the side of the track。
However； he could not keep this up for long； and was soon obliged to
settle back into his former slow pace。
At last Phil came in sight of the church spires of a town。
〃I believe that is Corinto；〃 he said； shading his eyes and peering off at
the distant town。 〃At any rate I can't be far from it now。〃
The knowledge was almost as good as a meal。 Its effect on Phil
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Forrest was magical。 He forgot all about his tender feet and empty
stomach as he swung into a good strong pace。
All at once he halted and listened。 The blare of the big horns of a
circus band reached his ears。
〃The parade has started。 I must hurry now。 The Sully wretches may
do something to the parade；〃 Phil cried； starting away on a run。 Nor did
he slacken his pace until he had gotten well into the town。 Now he could
hear two bands playing； and knew that the rival parades were under way。
〃Where is the circus lotwhere is the parade；〃 he asked a man as he
dashed by。
The man pointed off to the right and Phil took the next corner with a
rush。 As he swung into that street he saw the banners of the Sparling
show fluttering in the breeze as the parade moved majestically toward him。
Taking to the street； for the sidewalks were crowded； Phil ran with all
speed。 Mr。 Sparling； in his carriage at the head； saw him coming。 At
first he did not recognize the lad； then all at once he discovered who the
boy was。
Phil dashed up to the carriage。 Mr。 Sparling reached out a hand and
pulled him in。
〃Phil！〃 he cried。
〃Quick； get the tents guarded！ Sully's gang are going to cut the guy
ropes。 Look out for the parade too。 I suspect they will try to break it
up！〃
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The Circus Boys In Dixie Land （Or Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny South）
CHAPTER XVI
THE BATTLE OF THE ELEPHANTS
〃What！〃
〃Yes； hurry！〃 and Phil sank back； weak from lack of food and the
severe strain he had put upon himself。
Mr。 Sparling grasped the meaning of the lad's words in a flash。
Snatching a whistle from his pocket he blew two short； shrill blasts。 A
mounted man came riding up at a gallop。
〃Go to the lot！ Have the tents surrounded。 Let no one through who
doesn't belong to the show。 I trust you to look out for our property。 An
attempt may be made to do us damage while we are out on parade。 Now；
ride！〃
The man did ride。 He whirled his horse and set it at a run down the
line； headed toward the circus lot。
〃I've got to get back there myself； Phil。 Can you stand it to stay in
the carriage until it reaches the lot？〃
〃Yes； but I don't look fit。 I〃
〃Sit up and look wise。 The people will think you are a clown and
they'll split their sides laughing。 I'll talk with you later。 You must have
had a rough time of it。〃
〃I have had。〃
Mr。 Sparling jumped out of the carriage； and； ordering a rider to
dismount； took the latter's horse； on which he； too； rode back to the lot
with all speed。
Phil pulled himself together。 Half a block further on the people；
espying him； did laugh as Mr。 Sparling had said they would。
Phil grinned out of sheer sympathy。
〃I must look funny riding in this fine carriage with four white horses
drawing me through the streets。 I don't blame them for laughing。 If I
had something to eat； now； I would be all right。 I am getting to have as
much of an appetite as Teddy Tucker has。 I〃
Phil paused； listening intently。
〃I hear another band and it is coming nearer；〃 he exclaimed。 〃That
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must be the Sully show。 I forgot in my excitement； to ask Mr。 Sparling
about them。 I wonder where they are？〃
The music of the rival band grew louder and louder； but strain his eyes
and ears as he would； Phil was unable to locate the other show's line of
parade。
〃Where's that band？〃 he called up to the driver of his carriage。
〃Off that side of the town； I guess；〃 he answered； waving his whip to
the right of them。
〃Well； I think they are pretty close to us and I don't like the looks； or
rather the sound of things。〃
At that moment Phil's carriage was drawn across an intersecting street。
He looked up the street quickly。
〃There they are！〃 he cried。
Less than a quarter of a block up the street he saw the other parade
sweeping down upon them； bands playing； flags flying and banners
waving。 Phil's quick； practiced eyes saw something else too。 The
elephants were leading the rival parade； with horsemen immediately at
their rear； the band still further back。
This being so unusual in a parade； the Circus Boy knew that there
must be some reason for the peculiar formation。 The elephants should
have been further back in the line； the same as were those of the Sparling
show。
Phil divined the truth instantly。
〃They're going to break up our parade！〃 he cried。 〃That's what they
are hoping to do。 Drive on！ I'm going to get out and run back to tell the
parade manager。 They'll do us a lot of damage。〃
Phil leaped from the carriage and ran down the street； his coat wide
open showing his pink riding shirt beneath it。
〃Where's the parade manager？〃 he cried。
〃Gone to the lot。 Boss sent him back。〃
Phil groaned。 Something must be done and done quickly。 The rival
parade must be nearing their street by this time。
A thought occurred to him。 Phil dashed for the elephant herd。
〃Mr。 Kennedy！〃
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〃Yes？〃
〃Sully's show is going to run into us at that corner there。〃
〃They don't dare！〃
〃They do and they will。 Swing your elephants out of line and throw
them across that intersecting street。 I'll bet they won't get by our bulls in
a hurry。〃
〃Great！ Great； kid！ I'd never thought of that。〃
〃You'll have to hurry。 The other fellows are almost here and their
elephants are leading th
